Complaint filed against judge for acquitting 7 marines linked to forced disappearance in Tamaulipas

A complaint has been filed with the Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal (TDJ) against District Judge Carlos Alberto Pantoja Arreola. The judge, based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, acquitted seven marines from the Special Operations Unit (UNOPES) in April. These marines were implicated in the forced disappearance of individuals in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, in 2018.

Relatives of the victims, whose disappearances occurred eight years ago during the final months of former President Enrique Peña Nieto's administration, lodged the complaint at the Judicial Administration Body (OAJ) in Mexico City. They allege that the judge failed to uphold the principles of "legality, impartiality, honesty, and respect" expected of public servants.

In his April ruling, Judge Pantoja, presiding over the Federal Criminal Justice Center in Baja California Sur, stated that the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) did not present sufficient evidence to prove the forced disappearance of José Luis Carrillo Bautista. Carrillo Bautista disappeared in May 2018 while at the Yonke Pepe's establishment in Nuevo Laredo.

The judge cited contradictions in the presented testimonies, asserting they did not meet the required evidentiary standard for a conviction against the accused marines. "Under this tenor, it must be said that the evidentiary parade that took place in the trial hearing does not allow this judge to be certain that (the marines) committed the crime subject of the accusation," Pantoja wrote in his decision.

Consequently, he resolved to acquit the marines of the charge of forced disappearance of persons. The TDJ will now review the sentence and the judge's conduct in this case following the complaint.