The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI) has dealt a significant blow against corruption by approving the removal of two senior officials implicated in an extortion scandal related to tickets for the World Cup.
The officials in question are Jonathan Mendoza, Secretary of Personal Data, and Miguel Novoa, General Director of Rights Protection and Sanction, who have been dismissed from their positions following accusations against them.
According to the allegations, Mendoza and Novoa allegedly requested tickets for the World Cup from executives of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) in exchange for reducing fines imposed by the INAI. These accusations led to a thorough internal investigation by the INAI after analyzing evidence presented by the FMF.
The institute concluded that the officials offered to significantly reduce the fines to the FMF if they hired the services of a law firm “allied” with the INAI officials. This scandal has generated controversy in the political and social sphere, calling into question the integrity of a key institution for ensuring transparency and access to information in Mexico.
The INAI announced that it will continue with a detailed investigation into the facts, and if the officials are found guilty, appropriate legal measures will be taken. The removal of Mendoza and Novoa reflects the institute's commitment to ensuring ethics and compliance with the law, especially in sensitive matters such as personal data protection and the rights of citizens.
In the coming days, more details about the case are expected, as well as the actions that the INAI will take to clarify what happened and restore trust in the institution.
