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Sinaloa Vice Prosecutor Seeks Leave Amid U.S. Organized Crime Allegations
🇲🇽 Mexico /Crime & Justice

Sinaloa Vice Prosecutor Seeks Leave Amid U.S. Organized Crime Allegations

From El Universal · (14m ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Sinaloa's Vice Prosecutor Dámaso Castro Saavedra has requested a leave of absence without pay.
  • The request follows accusations by the United States linking him to organized crime.
  • The State Prosecutor's Office is evaluating whether Castro should be removed to avoid hindering federal investigations.

In Sinaloa, the recent news surrounding Vice Prosecutor Dámaso Castro Saavedra's request for a leave of absence has sent ripples through the state's legal and political circles. Castro, a high-ranking official within the State Prosecutor's Office, finds himself entangled in serious allegations from the United States, which accuses him of ties to organized crime. This development, as reported by El Universal, places immense pressure on the state's judicial system to navigate a complex situation with national and international implications.

The request for leave of absence is based on national laws and articles 141, 142 and 148 of the Political Constitution of the State of Sinaloa and the Organic Law of the Attorney General's Office of the state.

— Órgano Autónomo de SinaloaThe autonomous body of Sinaloa issued a statement detailing the legal basis for the Vice Prosecutor's leave request.

The State Prosecutor General, Claudia Zulema Sánchez Kondo, has publicly stated that the office is actively evaluating Castro's position. While emphasizing the principle of innocence until proven guilty, Sánchez Kondo acknowledged the need to consider the potential impact of Castro remaining in his post on ongoing federal investigations. This balancing act highlights the delicate position of state officials when faced with accusations from a foreign government, particularly one as influential as the U.S.

We are attentive to the evolution of the investigations opened by the Attorney General's Office, to determine if it is convenient for Vice Prosecutor Castro Saavedra to step aside.

— Claudia Zulema Sánchez KondoThe State Prosecutor General explained the office's stance on the ongoing investigations and Castro's potential separation from his post.

From our perspective here in Sinaloa, this situation is more than just a legal matter; it touches upon the deeply ingrained issues of security and governance that the state has long grappled with. The accusations against Castro, if substantiated, would underscore the persistent challenges of organized crime infiltrating public institutions. The decision on his leave, and any potential removal, will be closely watched as a signal of the state's commitment to transparency and accountability in the face of such grave allegations. The national constitution and state laws are being cited, but the ultimate resolution will undoubtedly be shaped by the political and social pressures at play.

The criterion of innocence prevails in this and other cases, so we have to wait to know the progress made by the competent authority handling this case.

— Claudia Zulema Sánchez KondoThe State Prosecutor General emphasized the presumption of innocence while awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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