Mexico City, August 14, 2024. — On Wednesday night, members of the Chihuahua Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office attempted to arrest former Chihuahua governor Javier Corral Jurado at the Gin Gin restaurant, located in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. Corral faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.
The arrest was reported by journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva, who posted a photo on his X account where Corral can be seen talking on the phone while a woman reads a document at the table. The operation generated a large police deployment, affecting traffic in the area due to the presence of authorities and the media.
According to Milenio reports, at around 10:40 p.m., the restaurant-bar workers blocked the emergency exit, preventing the agents from entering and leaving. Elements of the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico City (FGJ-CDMX) also went to the scene, who managed to get the former president out through the main door of the restaurant at 10:48 p.m., and then transfer him in an armored vehicle to the headquarters of the capital’s Attorney General’s Office.
It is worth noting that the night before, Corral attended the presentation of the book “Silent Feminism” by Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, wife of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Mexico City prosecutor rescues Javier Corral
Journalist Jorge Becerril reported altercations at the scene, including a physical assault on a woman who was recording the events. In addition, Imagen Televisión reported that the head of the FGJ-CDMX office, Ulises Lara, showed up at the restaurant-bar to “rescue” the former governor.
At the scene, Lara stated that, although they received the arrest warrant, the FGJ-CDMX decided not to collaborate with the Chihuahua Prosecutor’s Office, which prevented the arrest.
“Yes, but we decided not to collaborate… one thing is to receive it and another thing is that you entered (the restaurant) like that”
Ulysses Lara
The prosecutor of the #CDMXUlises Lara, rescued the former governor, #JavierCorraland took him away in his own truck, after the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Chihuahua showed up at a restaurant with an arrest warrant against him. pic.twitter.com/Hmfk5K4Z8X
— Ciro Gomez Leyva (@CiroGomezL) August 15, 2024
It is important to remember that on July 5, the Secretariat of Public Service (SFP) and the Attorney General’s Office (FGE) of Chihuahua announced investigations against Corral for illicit enrichment and tax fraud, accusing him of not declaring a plot of land valued at approximately four million pesos during his term.
Javier Corral has denounced that he is the victim of political persecution led by the current governor, Maru Campos Galván, and her predecessor, César Duarte Jáquez. “Even though the ‘Maru Duartismo’ insists on equalizing the cards, we are not and will not be equal,” declared Corral, stressing that he has never stolen or used his position for personal benefit.
