### SCJN Minister Claims Bribes from Salinas Pliego Companies Before Ruling
**By Carlos Álvarez Acevedo**
**September 23, 2024**
Loretta Ortiz Ahlf, a Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) since December 12, 2021, and proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has made serious allegations against companies owned by magnate Ricardo Salinas Pliego. She claimed she received offers from these companies before making decisions on certain cases.
In an interview with Telereportaje, a radio station in Tabasco, Ortiz Ahlf stated, “Before starting as a minister, representatives from Salinas Pliego’s companies approached me and offered to manage my publicity and image. I declined, but this shows how people try to tempt you with various offers, like paying for tickets to certain events.”
Ortiz Ahlf’s remarks come in connection with her handling of a case involving Elektra, a firm under the Grupo Salinas conglomerate. In January 2022, she presented a project on Elektra’s appeal, which was ultimately dismissed by the SCJN’s Second Chamber. Consequently, Elektra had to pay 2.636 billion pesos to the Tax Administration Service (SAT).
Additionally, President López Obrador acknowledged on September 23, 2024, that the fiscal dispute between SAT and Salinas Pliego’s firms, amounting to nearly 35 billion pesos, would not be resolved during his administration. Despite the pending analysis in the SCJN, López Obrador emphasized that it had already been proven that the tax debt existed.
Attorney representatives from Elektra requested that the full SCJN resolve their litigation against SAT. However, it’s expected that further discussions will take place in October 2024, post-López Obrador’s presidency, leading to potentially significant financial consequences for the companies involved.
*Further reading:
– The scheduled hearings for Elektra are anticipated to bring a resolution to the long-standing tax disputes.
– Grupo Elektra has remained entangled in various legal challenges, including international disputes regarding unpaid loans and regulatory compliance.
### Secondary Article: Legal Conflicts Surrounding Ricardo Salinas Pliego Deepen
Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the influential Mexican businessman, faces mounting legal pressures both domestically and internationally.
On the domestic front, Elektra remains embroiled in legal battles with the Tax Administration Service (SAT) over unpaid taxes amounting to nearly 35 billion pesos. The company’s attempts to overturn these tax assessments have faltered in the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), with recent developments pointing towards an unfavorable outcome for Elektra in October 2024.
Internationally, Salinas Pliego has incurred the ire of Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd, a U.S.-based investment firm, alleging default on a $110 million loan. The dispute primarily revolves around Corporación RBS SA de CV—another of Salinas Pliego’s enterprises—failing to honor loan repayment terms, including pledging millions of Elektra shares as collateral. Astor Asset Management accuses Salinas Pliego of not adhering to transaction disclosure norms, constituting severe breaches under Mexican law.
In response, Grupo Salinas has filed a countersuit in the UK, accusing Astor of fraud. This legal contention adds another layer of complexity to Salinas Pliego’s already challenging legal landscape, underscoring the significant financial and reputational stakes involved.
*For further updates and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.*