The Top 10 Most Corrupt Mexicans of 2013 by Forbes Magazine

Elba Esther Gordillo (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

In 2013, Mexico received the title of one of the most corrupt countries in Latin America, according to Transparency International, a global anti-corruption nonprofit group, based on the alarming levels of corruption in government, the judiciary and law enforcement.

The group’s Global Corruption Barometer of 2013, which was released in July, portrayed Mexico’s political parties, police, legislature and judiciary were perceived as the most corrupt, with 91%, 90%, 83%, and 80% negative views on corruption.

The report is based on a survey of 114,000 people in 107 countries.

The following is a list of the top 10 Mexicans that are perceived to be the most corrupt in 2013 provided by Forbes Magazine.

1. Elba Esther Gordillo – The former teacher’s union leader, known as La Maestra (the teacher) was charged in February with embezzling $200 million from union funds to pay for her lavish lifestyle. She is notorious for her $5,000 Hermes bags and expensive plastic surgeries in California Clinics. Three residences connected to Gordillo have been identified in California.

2. Carlos Romero Deschamps – He is the powerful Pemex workers union leader and one of the most notorious PRI members long suspected of influence-peddling for personal enrichment. Paulina Romero, his daughter, displays on Facebook her travels around the world in private jets – accompanied by her three English bulldogs Keiko, Boli, and Morgancita – her voyages on yachts, dining in first class restaurants and sporting $12,000 Hermes luxury bags. My “hands are clean,” Romero Deschamps claims. The Pena Nieto administration seems to agree. He is not under investigation.

3. Raul Salinas de Gortari – He is largely responsible for destroying his brother Carlos Salinas de Gortari’s presidential legacy by becoming a symbol of corruption and impunity. Raul spent ten years in jail convicted of a high-profile political homicide, but was acquitted in 2005. In July, a Mexican judge exonerated him on the final charge pending against him of “unlawful enrichment” and ordered $19 million dollars deposited in twelve bank accounts and 41 properties be returned to him. The decision outraged Mexicans. It was perceived as one more proof of abuse of power by Mexican elites.

4. Genaro Garcia Luna – He was the powerful Secretary of Public Security (SSP) under the Calderon Administration. With the biggest budget assigned to his department and a blank check from Calderon, Garcia Luna was the most feared cabinet and member. His tenure was marked by an excess of spending for self-promotion and abuse of power scandals exposed by the Mexican press. In her book Narcoland: The Mexican Drug Lords and their Godfathers, award-winning journalist Anabel Hernandez links Garcia Luna with the country’s top drug capos. Garcia Luna has not been seen since he left office in 2012. He is believed to be living in Miami but reporters have not been able to find him. There is no known investigation against him in Mexico or the U.S.

5. Andres Granier – Former PRI governor of Tabasco, was arrested by Mexican federal law-enforcement in June on charges of corruption, embezzlement, tax evasion and money laundering. In a taped conversation leaked to the media, Granier bragged about owning 400 pairs of shoes, 300 suits and 1,000 shirts, bought from luxury stores in New York and Los Angeles. His yearly salary as governor was $92,000. His successor discovered that $190 million was missing from state coffers. He was also indicted by the Tabasco authorities. He denies any wrongdoing.

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