Mexican governor on the lam from corruption charges arrested in Guatemala
A former Mexican governor who fled the country to avoid facing corruption charges has been arrested in Guatemala, authorities said.
Former Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte had been on the run since October, shortly after he resigned his post amid a series of allegations that included money laundering, involvement with organized crime and various acts of fraud.
Duarte was arrested Saturday in Guatemala and will be extradited to face charges in Mexico, according to a statement released Saturday night by Mexican prosecutors.
Once seen as a promising young member of Mexico’s long-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party, Duarte instead became a symbol of the corruption engrained deep in Mexico’s institutions. He is one of several former governors who are currently facing charges of corruption.
Prosecutors have accused him of setting up shell companies to divert public funds for his private use and of having connections to the criminal groups that have made Veracruz one of Mexico’s most violent states.
After his resignation Oct. 12, Duarte disappeared, leading Mexican authorities to launch a global manhunt.
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UPDATES:
12:45 a.m.: This story was updated throughout with staff reporting.
This story was originally published at 9:15 p.m.
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