The summons that required Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, to appear as a witness in a process related to the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students has been canceled by the Special Investigation and Litigation Unit for the Ayotzinapa Case (UEILCA) at the request of the Attorney General's Office (FGR). It was argued that, due to his high position, García Harfuch could give his statement in writing, thus avoiding a direct interrogation.
The Security Secretary had a scheduled video conference appointment for April 25 in the trial against Sidronio Casarrubias Salgado, the alleged leader of Guerreros Unidos involved in the case of the missing students. However, Prosecutor Carlos Villanueva Peña filed a revocation appeal against the summons on February 21, which was accepted by Judge Raquel Ivette Duarte Cedillo of the Second Federal District Court of Penal Processes in Toluca.
The magistrate resolved that, given García Harfuch's position as a high-ranking official, he could provide his testimony in writing or remotely, according to Article 45 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The selected option was the written statement, which generated various reactions and opened a debate about fairness in the administration of justice in the Ayotzinapa case.
"The dissenting arguments presented by the appellant (FGR) are valid, as the witness, currently holding the position of Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, is a high-ranking official who must give his testimony in one of the mentioned manners," detailed Judge Duarte Cedillo's resolution. The judge granted a period of five days to the UEILCA, the defense of Casarrubias, and the victims of the case to submit the questions intended for García Harfuch.
