Photo: Conacyt

By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) on Tuesday, Oct. 5, issued summons to six of the 31 scientists and former officials of the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt) who are under investigation for alleged acts of organized crime, money laundering, embezzlement and the illicit use of attributions and powers.

According to most unbiased sources, the 31 scientists are being prosecuted by the FGR primarily because they pointed out the Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero plagiarized large segments of his professional thesis, gaining his wrath and tenacious thirst for revenge.

The first of the scientists summoned to appear before the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) is Rafael Pando Cerón, the former director of planning, evaluation and technological monitoring of Conacyt, who was supposed to appear before the court on Tuesday, Oct. 5, but his appointment was postponed due to concerns that someone in the court had tested positive for covid-19.

Scientists Julia Tagüeña and Patricia Zúñiga, former coordinator and founder of the Consultative Forum, respectively, are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6, and Thursday, Oct. 7, federal sources confirmed.

The other three scientists mentioned are slated to appear before the FEMDO in the next few days.

Between August and September, the FGR tried twice, unsuccessfully, to obtain arrest warrants against the 31 scientists and former officials investigated.

In various pronouncements, the 31 investigated have disclosed that the FGR has not allowed them access to the investigation folder, so it is expected that those who appear before the FEMDO will become the first of the group to know part of the document.