**Mario Marín, the “Precious Governor,” Released from “El Altiplano”; Put Under House Arrest in Lydia Cacho Case**
Mario Plutarco Marín Torres, the former governor of Puebla (February 1, 2005 – January 31, 2011), and alleged perpetrator of torture against journalist and activist Lydia Cacho, was released from the Federal Social Readaptation Center (CEFERESO) No. 1 “El Altiplano” early on August 14, 2024. This decision came after Angélica del Carmen Ortuño Suárez, head of the Second District Court in Quintana Roo, revoked the preventive detention against him on August 10, 2024. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office (FGR) failed to substantiate the need to keep the former governor in prison, leading to the revocation of his preventive detention in compliance with an amparo ruling.
Marín Torres arrived at his residence in the San Ángel Residential area in Puebla, guarded by National Guard elements around 4:00 am on August 14. Following the judicial decision, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador criticized the Federal Judiciary for what he termed “sabadazos” (weekend rulings), implying that Marín Torres was protected by his adversaries for his alleged assistance in the 2006 electoral fraud.
In his morning press conference, President López Obrador asserted that Marín Torres, upon accusations by Lydia Cacho, had once promised to be imprisoned by Felipe Calderón if he won the presidential election – a promise never fulfilled due to Marín’s alleged help in the mentioned electoral fraud. López Obrador expressed that the release is another example of the judiciary’s need for reform.
On February 10, 2020, the Second District Court in Quintana Roo issued a formal prison order against Marín Torres for the crime of torture against Lydia Cacho, stemming from incidents in 2005. The former governor was apprehended by federal police on February 3, 2020, at his sister’s residence in Acapulco, Guerrero. He was subsequently transferred to Cancun, Quintana Roo, where he faced formal charges.
Lydia Cacho, on August 10, 2024, denounced the judicial decision and criticized it for only imposing a fine of 100,000 pesos and liberating him just before an expected firm sentence for torture. The NGO “Article 19” also announced that it would challenge this change in precautionary measures and the benefit granted to Hugo Adolfo Karam Bernal, Marín Torres’s co-accused.
Karam Bernal, accused of the same crime, was arrested in July 2023 after being a fugitive since 2019.
“Article 19” emphasized that releasing Marín Torres and Karam Bernal does not equate to absolution; they remain under trial with pending sentences for the torture crimes. The NGO highlighted that these particular cases necessitate precautionary imprisonment due to the risks involved, including possible flight and threats against Lydia Cacho, who remains outside Mexico due to security concerns.
Lydia Cacho faced severe ordeals following the publication of her book ‘The Demons of Eden,’ exposing child prostitution and trafficking networks involving high-profile individuals, leading to her unlawful detention and reported torture under Marín Torres’s governorship.
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**Secondary Article: Increased Concerns Over Judiciary’s Handling of High-Profile Cases**
In light of Mario Marín’s release, the conversation surrounding the judiciary’s handling of high-profile cases is intensifying. Critics, including President López Obrador, have called for significant reforms.
The president’s recent criticism targeting judiciary decisions often made over weekends highlights systemic issues within the judicial process. These “sabadazos” suggest a need for greater transparency and accountability in the legal system, especially concerning politically sensitive cases with high stakes.
Activist groups and NGOs continue to voice concerns over these rulings, advocating for structural changes. The release of individuals like Marín Torres raises questions about the extent to which judicial decisions align with broader justice goals, particularly in cases involving human rights abuses and corruption.
Moving forward, observers underscore the importance of a rigorous and impartial judicial system, free from political infuences, to uphold the rule of law and deliver justice fairly and equitably to all citizens.
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