Mexican court revives corruption case against ex-Pemex chief Lozoya

A federal court has ordered the revival of criminal proceedings against Emilio Lozoya, the former director of Mexico's state-owned oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). The case, centered on the corruption scheme known as Agronitrogenados, had been suspended for nearly three years.

The unanimous decision by the Third Collegiate Court in Criminal Matters of Mexico City denied Lozoya's appeal. Lozoya, who led Pemex from 2012 to 2016 during the administration of former President Enrique Peña Nieto, is accused of involvement in the overpriced purchase of a fertilizer plant.

Magistrates Lorena Oliv, Ricardo Ojeda, and Guadalupe Neri determined that Lozoya cannot benefit from a settlement agreement signed by Alonso Ancira, the owner of Altos Hornos de México (Ahmsa), who was involved in the fertilizer plant deal. The court stated that while Ancira's settlement covered his portion of the damages, Lozoya must still face his own legal obligations.

In 2023, a federal judge had suspended the proceedings against Lozoya after his defense argued that Ancira's payment of $216 million constituted full reparation for the damages. The reactivation of Lozoya's case comes as he also faces charges in the Odebrecht corruption scandal, for which he is currently under house arrest.

Separately, Lozoya's sister, Gilda Lozoya, was arrested on July 2 for alleged illicit enrichment and participation in the Agronitrogenados case. She was granted conditional release on July 4.