Mexican mayor-elect arrested on kidnapping charges just a month before entering office

Mexican authorities have arrested mayor-elect on abductions charges just a month before he is set to take office.

Jorge Fabián Cárdenas Sosa was apprehended by the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office anti-kidnapping unit Thursday in Xalapa, Veracruz.

Cárdenas Sosa was in the company of Veracruz state prosecutor Adriana Bichi, who attempted to stop the agents from arresting him. Bichi was taken into custody for obstruction of justice, according Mexico newspaper Proceso.

Mexican newspaper Milenio reported that Cárdenas Sosa is being investigated for his ties to a criminal organization that operates in Los Tuxtla region.

A spokesperson with the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office declined to provide DailyMail.com with a date for Jorge Fabián Cárdenas Sosa’s first court appearance. He was elected mayor of Lerdo de Tejeda, a city in the Mexican gulf state of Veracruz

Cárdenas Sosa ran under the ticket of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s National Regeneration Movement (Morena), picking up the mayoral’s seat for the municipality of Lerdo de Tejeda in June. 

Cárdenas Sosa, who is the owner of a sugar mill and third division soccer club Atlético Sozca, is set to be sworn in January 1, 2022. 

The prosecutor’s office said in a statement that ‘in respect of human rights and due process, he will be presented in an initial hearing before the control and process judge to define his legal situation, within the criminal penal code …’

A spokesperson with the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office declined to provide DailyMail.com with a date for Cárdenas Sosa’s first court appearance.

In a statement posted to his Facebook account, Cárdenas Sosa indicated the only crime he ever did was ‘dreaming.’ ‘Those who know me know that I come from work, sacrifice and effort. There has not been a single day of my life since I can remember that I have not worked honestly to earn what I have, working was the inheritance of my grandfather and my parents,’ he wrote.

In a statement posted to his Facebook account, Cárdenas Sosa indicated the only crime he ever did was ‘dreaming.’

‘Those who know me know that I come from work, sacrifice and effort. There has not been a single day of my life since I can remember that I have not worked honestly to earn what I have, working was the inheritance of my grandfather and my parents,’ he wrote.

‘I dreamed of being able to govern evenly, I committed the crime of not being a diplomat … I committed the crime of dreaming.’

Cárdenas Sosa called on his constituents to remain ‘calm’ and not revolt. 

‘I’m going to go through this process with my head held high,’ he added. ‘I am not above justice, that is why I ask all those who believe in me to remain calm, I am looking for peace, not a revolution.’  

Veracruz governor Cuitláhuac García initially slammed press reports, including Al Calor Político, indicating that Cárdenas Sosa ‘is clean’ and that the outlet had it out for him because it disliked him.

García eventually changed his tune after obtaining information on the charges, and disassociated himself from Cárdenas Sosa, indicating he had stained the National Regeneration Movement image.

‘Look at the consequences, they are going to link you and there will be no considerations here, we will not be accomplices of anyone, regardless of the party to which they belong,’ García said during a press conference.

Mexico City-based consulting Etellekt found that 91 politicians who sought or held office were killed after campaigning for the midterm elections that started in September 7, 2020.

The firm registered more than 900 violent incidents against political party members during midterm election campaign season. At least 172 criminal acts were reported in over 100 cities on election day.