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Former Pemex director Emilio Lozoya agrees to his extradition

Emilio Lozoya faces money laundering and fraud charges in Mexico

English | 30-06-20 | 10:12 | Newsroom/EL UNIVERSAL in English | Actualizada | 05-07-20 | 16:13 |

Redacción El Universal

, the former Pemex director linked to several corruption cases and accused of fraud and money laundering , agreed to be extradited to Mexico.

Emilio Lozoya Austin has been accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht and of being involved in the fraudulent sale-purchase of a fertilizer plant from Agronitrogenados.

Lozoya Austin was arrested in Málaga, Spain on February 12, 2020, after being on the run for months. For almost a year, the Interpol collaborated with Mexican authorities to find and arrest Emilio Lozoya , who fled to Europe.

In a statement, the Attorney General’s Office announced Emilio Lozoya agreed to his extradition and will collaborate with Mexican authorities.

#FGRInforma Emilio “L” presentó ante la Sala de lo Penal de la Audiencia Nacional del Reino de España, su solicitud por escrito en la que acepta la extradición; así como ser entregado a las autoridades mexicanas, ofreciendo su colaboración para esclarecer los hechos imputados.
— FGR México (@FGRMexico) June 30, 2020

La #FGR ha realizado las diligencias necesarias para trasladar a este individuo, desde España hasta México, en una aeronave de bandera mexicana, con objeto de cumplir con todas las previsiones de seguridad y de salud en la internación a nuestro país.
— FGR México (@FGRMexico) June 30, 2020

Una vez que esta etapa se haya cumplido, se iniciarán las diligencias procedentes para esclarecer las responsabilidades de los involucrados, incluyendo personas de relevancia o grupos políticos que hayan participado, o se hayan beneficiado de estos despojos a la nación mexicana.
— FGR México (@FGRMexico) June 30, 2020

La relevancia del tema obliga a la transparencia absoluta de esta investigación, y a una equidad fuera de duda.
— FGR México (@FGRMexico) June 30, 2020

Mexican authorities will send an airplane to Spain to fly the f ormer Pemex director back to Mexico.

The FGR emphasized the investigation will be transparent.

[Publicidad]

A few hours later, Javier Coello Trejo , Lozoya's lawyer in Mexico, announced he would no longer represent the former Pemex chief because they have differences regarding the defense strategy .

Meanwhile, Spanish authorities are deciding whether they will immediately extradite Emilio Lozoya to Mexico or not.

Lozoya will remain at the Navalcarnero prison in Madrid until his extradition.

[Publicidad]

Who is Emilio Lozoya?

President Enrique Peña Nieto appointed Lozoya as Pemex's executive director on December 4, 2012.

[Publicidad]

Emilio Lozoya has been linked to Odebrecht , as he allegedly received a USD 10.5 million bribe from the Brazilian company.

In April 2016, Lozoya was linked to another scandal: the Panama Papers . He was linked to a law firm called Mossack Fonseca. Lozano allegedly reached out to the law firm to create an offshore company in Dubai.

In 2015, he was involved in a corruption case linked to OHL , a construction company where he worked before being appointed as Pemex's executive director.

[Publicidad]

According to leaked phone calls, Lozoya met with Juan Miguel Villar Mir, the OHL director, to discuss the participation of OHL in Pemex's tenders.