Sheinbaum says former Navy chief is not hiding

President Claudia Sheinbaum said former Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda is not hiding and has not refused to testify in a case involving Rear Adm. Fernando Farías Laguna, who is facing proceedings over alleged fuel smuggling, according to Luces del Siglo.

Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference that Ojeda is not under investigation and that the attorney general had confirmed he has no crime charged against him. She said the defense for one of the detained people asked that Ojeda be called as a witness, and that prosecutors are reviewing the request. Ojeda will decide whether and how to testify while the prosecution and judiciary determine how to handle the matter, Sheinbaum said.

Luces del Siglo reported that Reforma published on Aug. 28 that a federal judge had summoned Ojeda as a witness at a hearing connected to the proceedings against Farías Laguna, but that the Attorney General's Office did not locate him to deliver the summons. Ojeda has been accused by others of protecting his political relatives, Vice Adm. Manuel Roberto and his brother, Rear Adm. Fernando Farías, who are themselves accused of controlling alleged fiscal fuel smuggling through maritime customs. Epigmenio Mendieta, Farías' lawyer, said Ojeda's summons was one reason the judge declared the hearings private. The defense provided Ojeda's current address, but prosecutors still did not locate him, Mendieta said.