Missing miner wins union coup ruling

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A judge ruled Wednesday that the longtime head of the Mexican miners union, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, was illegally dumped from his position a year ago.

Forged signatures were used to replace Urrutia with Elias Morales in a union coup just days before the Feb. 19 coal mine disaster that killed 65 workers, the judge ruled.

Urrutia, meanwhile, has been hiding out in Vancouver and no one expects the favorable ruling will bring him home anytime soon. He faces charges of stealing $55 million set aside for laid-off workers while union head, a job he inherited from his dad. He’s said he’s innocent of any wrongdoing.

Check out his abandoned Mexico City digs at Google Earth: 19 25’ 25.72’ N 99 12’ 27.56’ W

Posted by Carlos Martinez in Mexico City