Former University Rector Alejandro Vera Jiménez Arrested After 7-Year Warrant in “Master Scam”
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After seven years on the run, former rector of the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos (UAEM), Dr. Alejandro Vera Jiménez, was arrested on November 7 in Cuautla by the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic. The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation of a large-scale corruption scheme known as the “master scam,” involving the alleged diversion of billions of pesos in federal funds.
The “Master Scam” and Allegations of Diversion
Vera Jiménez is under investigation for his alleged role in diverting resources from the “National Crusade Against Hunger,” a program initiated during the administration of former President Enrique Peña Nieto. According to official information, the “master scam” encompassed approximately 7,670 million pesos in illicit contracts, implicating 11 federal agencies, 8 universities – including the UAEM – and over 50 officials.
The Federal Court of Administrative Justice determined that Vera Jiménez was responsible for the diversion of 239 million pesos between 2013 and 2014. This was allegedly achieved through a “fund triangulation scheme” involving the simulation of services and improper subcontracting of companies.
Years of Evasion and Previous Arrests
The pursuit of Vera Jiménez began in November 2017, when authorities searched his residence in Club de Golf Paraíso, Emiliano Zapata, attempting to execute an arrest warrant for illicit enrichment. When he was not found, he was declared “abducted from justice” by authorities.
In January 2018, Vera Jiménez was apprehended for abuse of trust, initially held at the Atlacholoaya prison in Xochitepec before being placed under house arrest. A senior official confirmed that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of Morelos, Juan Salazar Núñez, personally oversaw the operation, arresting the former rector from a restaurant during a meeting with former collaborators.
Kidnapping and Subsequent Reward Offering
The saga took a dramatic turn in November 2019 when Vera Jiménez and his wife, researcher María Elena Ávila Guerrero, were kidnapped while traveling from Tepalcingo to Cuernavaca. Fortunately, the couple was rescued the following day by police forces specializing in combating kidnapping, and the alleged perpetrators were also arrested.
Despite the rescue, questions surrounding Vera Jiménez’s legal status persisted. In April 2021, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Morelos offered a reward of 1,110 UMAS (approximately 100,000 pesos) for information leading to his whereabouts, citing ongoing judicial processes related to alleged mismanagement during his tenure at the university.
A History of Political Opposition
Vera Jiménez served as the head of the UAEM from 2012 to 2017, a period marked by frequent clashes with the then-governor of Morelos, Graco Ramírez. He led numerous marches with the university community, demanding increased funding from both the state and federal governments. During this time, Vera Jiménez claimed to be the target of political persecution by the state government.
He actively opposed Ramírez’s administration, forging an alliance with Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo, the then-mayor of Cuernavaca. Together with Blanco, activist Javier Sicilia, and Bishop Ramón Castro, Vera Jiménez spearheaded protests demanding Ramírez’s removal, citing escalating violence in the state.
In a surprising political maneuver, Vera Jiménez briefly registered as a pre-candidate for governor with the New Alliance Party, ultimately relinquishing the candidacy in exchange for a position as director of Science and Technology under Blanco Bravo’s administration.
