Mexican governor on the lam from corruption charges arrested in Guatemala
Reporting from Mexico City — A former Mexican governor who fled the country to avoid facing corruption charges has been arrested in Guatemala, authorities said.
Former Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte had been on the run since October, shortly after he resigned his post amid a series of allegations that included money laundering, involvement with organized crime and various acts of fraud.
Duarte was arrested Saturday in Guatemala and will be extradited to face charges in Mexico, according to a statement released Saturday night by Mexican prosecutors.
Once seen as a promising young member of Mexico’s long-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party, Duarte instead became a symbol of the corruption engrained deep in Mexico’s institutions. He is one of several former governors who are currently facing charges of corruption.
Prosecutors have accused him of setting up shell companies to divert public funds for his private use and of having connections to the criminal groups that have made Veracruz one of Mexico’s most violent states.
After his resignation Oct. 12, Duarte disappeared, leading Mexican authorities to launch a global manhunt.
ALSO
Another journalist is gunned down in Mexico — the fourth in just six weeks
North Korea defiantly attempts another missile test, but launch ends in failure
UPDATES:
12:45 a.m.: This story was updated throughout with staff reporting.
This story was originally published at 9:15 p.m.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
