MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The mother of Emilio Lozoya, the former chief executive of Mexican state oil company Pemex and a close confidant to ex-President Enrique Pena Nieto, has been arrested in Germany, Lozoya’s lawyer said on Wednesday July 24.
The lawyer, Javier Cuello, told local radio that Gilda Austin, 71, was arrested in connection with money laundering charges stemming from a $155,000 USD deposit made to her bank account and that was used to pay taxes and legal fees in a real estate deal.
Cuello said she has committed no crime.
Lozoya and several of his family members have been accused in a wide-ranging corruption case.
On Friday July 19, Mexico’s attorney general’s office announced that a judge issued arrest warrants for the former chief executive of state oil firm Pemex, Emilio Lozoya, his wife, sister, and mother.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom with information from REUTERS
