The mayor of a Mexican city is facing accusations that she orchestrated her own kidnapping so she could embezzle nearly $2 million in public funds disguised as ransom money.Nancy Napoles, the mayor of Tenancingo, a town a few hours from Mexico City, denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated.
She posted a video clip on social media in which she affirmed her innocence and described the case as “politicized.”
“Napoles is a member of the ruling Morena party led by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has made the fight against corruption a major theme of her administration.Prosecutors say they are seeking testimony from Napoles on July 9 about a “simulated kidnapping.” No arrest warrant has been issued for her at this stage, although her husband and brother-in-law are currently wanted and on the run.According to investigators, Napoles was forced from her car at gunpoint by armed men. The case is based in part on the statements of three suspects who have already been arrested. The group initially reported that the kidnappers demanded “40 million pesos for her release,” roughly $2.3 million, and threatened to kill her and her family if the money was not paid.The ransom demand was a plan to hide stolen public funds.
Prosecutors allege that Napoles’ relatives suggested that the money be taken from local government resources if the ransom was not collected. The plot begins to unravel after a witness sees the city’s mayor being kidnapped and informs the police. This prompted investigators to question the circumstances of the so-called kidnapping and identify inconsistencies in the story.Authorities also released photos that they say show evidence of a planned kidnapping.
They also say Napoles’ husband and brother-in-law helped plan the scheme, using money that had already been embezzled and trying to “create a justification for the money.”In a statement, the office of the State Prosecutor, Fiscalía Edoméx, said, “#FiscalíaEdoméx has arrested three individuals identified as Carla Valeria ‘N’, Víctor Manuel ‘N’, and Christian ‘N’.”“I have also requested a hearing to frame a charge against a public servant of the municipality and hold a valid bench warrant for the arrest of two additional men, all allegedly in connection with the ‘kidnapping’ of a female with the initials NNP,” she added.
Who serves as Mayor of #Tenancingo, the events that occurred on May 31 of this year.“These individuals were supposed to simulate the kidnapping of the president to obtain P40 million in exchange for the victim’s release.”Napolis rejected these accusations and said she was ready to cooperate with investigators. “The guilty perpetrators will be punished,” she said, adding that she would help clarify what happened.