Mexico president chides Israel for ‘protecting’ ex-official accused in missing students case

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday rebuked Israel’s authorities for what he referred to as its safety of a prime former official needed in Mexico on accusations he manipulated a probe into the 2014 disappearance of 43 college students.

Mexico final 12 months urged Israel to facilitate the extradition of Tomas Zeron, the previous head of Mexico’s felony investigation company, who Mexican officers say fled to Israel in 2020 to evade a probe into his dealing with of the lacking college students case.

The renewed strain to convey Zeron to Mexico comes after officers final week arrested his prior boss, former legal professional common Jesus Murillo, on costs of pressured disappearance, torture and obstruction of justice linked to the probe into what grew to become of the scholars.

Zeron has beforehand denied allegations of wrongdoing.

“Let me take the chance to ship a respectful reminder to the federal government of Israel. They cannot be defending folks like that,” Lopez Obrador informed a information convention.

He added that Israel’s prime minister had despatched a letter pledging cooperation, however had but to take any additional motion.

“It has been a very long time,” Lopez Obrador stated.

The Israeli authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Mexican authorities have beforehand accused Zeron of planting proof to help the earlier administration’s model of what occurred after the kidnapping of the scholars, which officers final week referred to as a “state crime” coated up by the best ranges of presidency on the time.

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; extra reporting by Kylie Madry; Modifying by Alistair Bell)