Former Puebla Governor Mario Marín. Photo: Google

By KELIN DILLON

Mario Marín Torres, the former governor of the Mexican state of Puebla, was released from Mexico’s maximum security prison El Altiplano on Tuesday, Aug. 13, just days after a judicial decision to remove his preventative detention order.

Marín was held in preventative detention El Altiplano for three and a half years after his apprehension by the National Guard in February 2021.

Judge Angélica del Carmen Ortuño Suárez ruled on Aug. 9 that the former governor should be taken out of the State of México prison in favor of continuing his pre-trial processes on house arrest.

The decision came after Ortuño Suárez determined that the charges against Marín – which include the kidnapping and torture of journalist Lydia Cacho and the protection of child trafficking networks during his tenure as Puebla’s governor – did not warrant preventative detention.

The judge also placed a bail of 100,000 pesos on Marín, who is now set to await his trial in his house in his hometown of Puebla.

However, as conditions of his release, the official will be required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, surrender his passport and remain subject to escape prevention measures.

Following Marín’s release, Cacho took to social media to say she will blame Ortuño Suárez “for anything that may happen” to herself or her legal representation.

“He is a dangerous prisoner for me, for my witnesses and my family,” said Cacho.