The defense, led by lawyer Julio Hernández Barros, requested an extension of the 144-hour constitutional term, so the continuation of the hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at 12:00. The defender explained that the session was extended from Thursday evening to Friday noon after a recess was granted to review the investigation file, which he said consists of thousands of pages, many of which have no direct relation to the case. According to the defense, the judge imposed the precautionary measure in strict compliance with the constitutional mandate, without carrying out a conventionality analysis, which he affirmed reflects the rigidity with which the preventive detention is applied. Hernández Barros considered the measure excessive, by maintaining that the former rector “has never evaded justice” and has remained at his home since the beginning of the investigations. Federal Judge Guillermina Matías Garduño, attached to the Federal Criminal Justice Center of the State of Mexico, based in Almoloya de Juárez, ordered the preventive detention of the former rector of the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos (UAEM), Jesús Alejandro Vera Jiménez, within criminal case 400/2020, in which he is accused of the crimes of organized crime, illicit enrichment and operations with resources of illicit origin. During the initial hearing, held at the Federal Criminal Justice Center, the Attorney General's Office (FGR) formulated the imputation and requested the linkage to process. He also affirmed that the FGR kept the arrest warrant inactive for more than four years, which demonstrates, in his opinion, that there was no risk of flight. The lawyer denied that the file is related to the diversion scheme known as ‘The Master Scam’, and assured that Vera Jiménez's management at the head of the UAEM was characterized by transparency and social inclusion policies. Regarding the statements of former governor Graco Ramírez Garrido Abreu, who publicly celebrated the detention of the former rector, the defense considered them out of place and without foundation. He added that the political persecution against Jesús Alejandro Vera Jiménez originated during Ramírez's administration, although today said political actor lacks influence or relevance in the process. The litigant highlighted the respectful and law-abiding treatment of Judge Matías Garduño during the hearing, although he reiterated his disagreement with the imposition of the preventive detention. Currently, Jesús Alejandro Vera Jiménez remains confined at the Federal Social Rehabilitation Center No. 1, El Altiplano, pending that next Wednesday it will be determined if he will be linked to process.
