Judge Advances Case in Seven-Year Akumal Land Dispute

Akumal, Quintana Roo — After seven years of litigation, a 74-year-old man is closer to recovering 37 hectares of land in Akumal after a judge ordered José María Rejón de la Guerra to stand trial on charges of allegedly dispossessing him of the property.

Antonio Manrique Mac, the property owner, says the land is worth between $2 million and $5 million. It contains three cenotes and caves, features that Manrique Mac says give it significant potential for ecotourism or even future real estate development.

The court decision is the latest step in a case Manrique Mac has pursued since 2019. Rejón de la Guerra is also the brother-in-law of Carlos Joaquín González, a former governor of Quintana Roo, according to Manrique Mac’s allegations.

The ruling does not amount to a conviction. The investigation will continue, and Manrique Mac has also pointed to the possible involvement of other individuals, including public employees and notaries, citing alleged irregularities in the actions of prosecutors and notarial offices. Those claims must still be investigated and proved by the authorities.

For Manrique Mac, the conflict is not just about the temporary loss of land but about a patrimony he has spent years trying to recover through legal channels. As the criminal case moves forward, he holds out hope that the judicial process will clarify the facts and allow him to regain possession of the 37 hectares, putting an end to seven years of dispute over his property.