Álvarez-Buylla rules out “impetus for revenge”

Laura Poy Solano

Newspaper La Jornada
Sunday January 29, 2023, p. 7

The National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) It is not a Public Ministry or a judge, but we do have the responsibility and obligation by law, at the risk of becoming accomplices, to report any alleged irregularity that we detectaffirmed María Elena Álvarez-Buylla, general director of the institute, in an interview with this newspaper.

After the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) challenged the ruling of a federal judge who ordered the dismissal of the criminal proceedings in favor of five of the 31 scientists investigated for organized crime, money laundering and corruption crimes, he stressed that We have an obligation as public servants. When information that may lead to alleged irregularities is detected, the competent authorities are notified, in this case the Ministry of Public Administration and the FGR, in terms of possible property damage..

In the Conacyt, We have no enemies and no impetus for revenge. The information detected was presented, as mandated by law, without pointing out culprits or classifying any crime.

The investigation process and, where appropriate, identification of an alleged illegal act, added, does not depend on the council, but on an autonomous body such as the FGR.

Álvarez-Buylla stressed that We do not cover anything or hide anything. The FGR has its processes. We comply with delivering the information detected, but the investigation process is not our task, but the Public Ministry, which is an autonomous entity.

He added that the process against the 31 researchers from the Scientific and Technological Advisory Forum and former officials of Conacyt itself, including the five scientists acquitted by the federal judge, must go through the corresponding legal channels in accordance with the law and always respecting the presumption of innocence, as has been done in this administration.

The investigation against the scientists began in 2020, but until 2021 the Specialized Prosecutor for Organized Crime Investigation opened a folder for alleged crimes related to operations with resources of illicit origin, embezzlement and organized crime for 244 million pesos.

On January 13, federal judge Gregorio Salazar Hernández, attached to the Federal Criminal Justice Center in the state of Mexico with residence in the municipality of Almoloya de Juárez (Altiplano), acquitted five of the 31 scientists investigated, a ruling that was challenged by the FGR, so it will be a collegiate court that determines whether to confirm, revoke or modify the judge’s decision.

In this regard, Álvarez-Buylla reiterated that the FGR It has its processes and is totally autonomous, so it will be this instance that determines whether or not to present other evidence, whether or not to classify other crimes, following the legal channels, because it is not up to Conacyt to integrate investigation folders..

He added that As a person, it hurts me, because it is not indifferent to me, as a human being, to see my scientific colleagues pointed out. What I want is that the entire process be followed in accordance with the law, with respect for the presumption of innocence and human rights..