Witness in S.A. trial testifies not just Humberto Moreira received bribes but brother Ruben also

Posted by DD.  Sources Reforma and Mexican News Daily

Humberto and Ruben

On July 8 of this year Borderland Beat reported in a story entitled "Bribes, Murder, and Scarface: How the Zetas Bought a Mexican Border State". 

In that story about the ongoing trial in San Antonio of Marciano Millan Vasquez, for drug trafficking and murder,  a convicted drug trafficker and money launderer , Rodrigo Humberto Uribe Tapia testified that he helped arrange and deliver $2,000,000 in bribe money to then Governor Humberto Moreira.

This past week on Thursday  US Prosecutors put another ex-Zeta, Adolfo Efrén Tavira, a former
drug and arms dealer currently serving a 30 year sentence on the stand.  During five hours of testimony he  testified that the Zetas crime gang operated freely in the state of Coahuila thanks to the collusion of local politicians. 

Governor Rubén Ignacio Moreira Valdéz, brother of Humberto Moreira,  was among the politicians he named . Tavira testified that he was involved in the preparation of a delivery  of 'campaign resources' (campaign contribution) for Ruben Moreira,

According to the testimony , it was in 2012 at the ranch 'Beto Casas', near  Piedras Negras, when he placed suitcases full of  money in a Suburban van.

'Everyone told me that Beto Casas gave a Suburban with a lot of bags of money to Ruben Moreira as a 'campaign contribution', Tavira told the jury.  Although he helped load the money into the Suburban van, he was not present when the delivery was made.

The witness, Tavira, was arrested by the Navy and once he was released escaped to the United States, where he was arrested, pleaded guilty.  He is a former employee of the Piedras Negras office of the television broadcaster Televisa. During the 1990s he was responsible for removing the names of certain drug traffickers from news reports.  He was considered the "front man" for the Zetas in Piedras. 

During the five hours of his testimony sitting on the witness stand, Tavira wept, remembering how Marciano Millán gathered a group of 40 men, women and children who he led to a walled farm west of Piedras Negras, where they were forced to kneel and then gave them coup de grace.

 Before the jury, Tavira said that within the group of kneeling people he recognized some that were unrelated to drug trafficking, but still were shot 'in cold blood' by the gunmen. 

Tavira’s evidence was given last Thursday. That same evening, before the testimony was published in the electronic media,  the government of Coahuila issued a statement denying the veracity of his testimony.

The testimony of a protected witness before a court of the United States concerning the governor of the state was false, said the statement.

“We strongly reject these statements. They are falsehoods and lies.” The state government also pointed out that although the witness claimed the “campaign contribution” was delivered in 2012, Moreira’s campaign took place one year earlier.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party also rejected Tavira’s account, saying Rubén Moreira’s administration had “fought organized crime head on.”

                                             *******************

As a side note, on Monday of this week President Pena Nieto signed into law new anti-corruption laws and said this day "“will be remembered as the beginning of a new era for democracy and the rule of law.” 

 In the presence of the Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, Jesus Zambrano (PRD), 
and the Senate, Roberto Gil (PAN),
President Enrique Peña Nieto signed the order for the publication of the National Anticorruption Laws
Photo: Cristina Rodriguez

 Many analyst believe that Congress gutted the citizens initiative that came to be know as the 3x3 Ley. it's basic requirement would have required the publication of three statements: assets, investments, and tax returns, as a legal obligation of all elected officials. However the legislation which Congress presented to EPN and which he signed left it discretionary with the public official as to whether to make those statements public.

Believe it or not there has never been a definition of  corruption in Mexican law.  The new law now defines it as :

0 acts that will be considered acts of corruption

    Bribery
    Misappropriation or diversion of public funds
    Influence peddling
    Abuse of power
    Hidden financial gains
    Obstruction of justice
    Collusion
    Illegal use of false or confidential information
    Nepotism
    Conspiracy to commit acts of corruption

“will be remembered as the beginning of a new era for democracy and the rule of law.” - See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/president-signs-new-anti-corruption-laws/#sthash.746Zzbkl.dpuf

“will be remembered as the beginning of a new era for democracy and the rule of law.” - See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/president-signs-new-anti-corruption-laws/#sthash.746Zzbkl.dpuf

It also provides for severe penalties for public servants and a blacklist of those penalized: Penalties that prevent corrupt public servants from participating in any activities of the Mexican state. Prioritization of the recovery of resources and assets derived from acts of corruption.

At the signing ceremony EPN took the opportunity to apologize for Casa Blanco.  He said that although he did not act illegally, he acknowledged that his actions concerning the scandal over the Casa Blanca might have appeared improper and he apologized and asked for forgiveness.  He did not really specify what he was apologizing for.







.