Mexican cardinal cleared of money laundering charges

Published: 2003-12-31

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Mexico has dropped money laundering charges against Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez of Guadalajara. Deputy Attorney General Jose Vasconcelos said Dec. 26 that investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing. The government had charged that Cardinal Sandoval or his subordinates had accepted donations from drug dealers. "It has been concluded that there's nothing to support the accusations of money laundering, use of illicit funds and tax fraud," Vasconcelos said at a press conference, reported The Associated Press. The investigation into Cardinal Sandoval was prompted by evidence presented by former Attorney General Jorge Carpizo, who said Cardinal Sandoval had worked with drug traffickers and acquired "an immense and inexplicable wealth." However, church officials have said Cardinal Sandoval was being framed for seeking justice in the murder of his predecessor. Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo was gunned down in the Guadalajara airport in 1993; Carpizo headed the initial investigation into the killing.

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