Former Mexican state governor suspected of tax fraud is arrested

MEXICO CITY -- Andres Granier, the former governor of the Mexican state of Tabasco who was recently caught on tape boasting that he owned 300 suits and 400 pairs of shoes, was arrested Tuesday evening by federal authorities on suspicion of tax fraud and “operating with illicit proceeds.”

Granier, 65, has taken center stage in Mexican politics in recent weeks after tapes surfaced of him talking about his lavish lifestyle -- boasts that he says were not true and made while he was drunk.

State and federal authorities had been investigating whether he was involved in the theft of millions of dollars from state coffers before leaving office in December.

Federal prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that Granier left a Mexico City hospital, where he had checked himself in to be treated for a heart condition. Officials said Granier would be taken to a prison and was expected to make a statement before a judge.

Granier denies the accusations against him.

The Granier affair is being closely watched by Mexicans interested in the extent to which the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto, which took power in December, is willing to crack down on corruption, even when a member of Peña Nieto’s party stands accused.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, ruled Mexico in a quasi-dictatorial style for much of the 20^th century and allowed some of its key players to exploit public office for private gain.

Peña Nieto has promised repeatedly that his party has changed with the times.

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