Two Suspects Bound Over for Trial in Tulum Environmental Damage Case

Tulum, Quintana Roo — A federal judge has ordered two people to stand trial on environmental and public-property charges tied to an alleged failure to comply with restoration orders at a site inside the Tankah tourist complex in Tulum.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office (FGR) said Montserrat N. and Jesús N. face possible responsibility for crimes against environmental management and violations of Mexico’s General Law on National Property.

According to the FGR, the investigation began with a complaint filed by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa). The agency alleged that a company’s legal representative ignored the terms of an administrative ruling requiring repairs to damage detected on land where buildings, construction work and other activities had been carried out.

After assembling the case file and presenting evidence to the court, federal prosecutors obtained a ruling from a control judge, who determined there was enough evidence to continue criminal proceedings against both suspects.

Travel ban and monthly check-ins

As precautionary measures, the judge ordered the defendants to report to authorities once a month and barred them from leaving Mexico without judicial authorization. The judge also set a three-month window for the follow-up investigation, during which authorities can gather further evidence.

The case centers on whether environmental rules governing the property were followed, and on the obligations set out for restoring the area after the construction and other activities carried out there.

Prosecutors said they will continue investigating to determine possible criminal responsibility and to establish how the corrective measures ordered by environmental authorities were allegedly ignored.

The FGR stressed that being bound over for trial does not amount to a finding of guilt. Under Mexico’s presumption of innocence, Montserrat N. and Jesús N. must be considered innocent until a competent court issues a conviction.