Accusations against Karime Macías are false, alleges former Secretary of Health Nemi Dib

Juan Antonio Nemi Dib, former Secretary of Health and former director of the Veracruz DIF, testified before the Westminster Magistrates Court in teleconference format from Jalapa

The defense of Karime Macías Tubilla counterattacked this Wednesday the extradition request to Mexico before the British justice, invoking the testimony of Juan Antonio Nemi Dib , former Secretary of Health and former director of the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF) of Veracruz

The former state official gave testimony before the Westminster Magistrates Court in teleconference format from Jalapa, Veracruz.

He affirmed that his presence in the substantial process of extradition to Mexico of the ex-wife of the ex-governor of Veracruz Javier Duarte was voluntary, without pressure or any reward, although he accepted that he was contacted by the defendant’s defense to intervene as a witness.

During his speech for 3 hours, he assured that the accusations against the former first lady of Veracruz are false and were created by Jorge Winckler, former state attorney general.

“Jorge Winckler is accused of a crime against humanity, he is a fugitive, he has an Interpol file, he is the same person who invented the accusations against me and Mrs. Tubilla, and he is the same person you are defending,” said Nemi Dib , addressing the legal representative . of the Mexican government .

He alleged that both the prosecution and the state police are persecuting him, and asserted that after the hearing his life is in danger.

“My wife tells me how is it possible that I prefer to protect Tubilla’s children than my children,” he continued.

He pointed out that in retaliation for his appearance in court, the prosecution has initiated new investigations against him, for which he has requested protection from the federal justice system to avoid jail time.

They are preparing a new investigation to imprison me again for this appearance.”

Accompanied by his assistant, he said he had never spoken with Javier Duarte and only once with Karime Macías. He also exchanged WhatsApp communication with the accused.

When the prosecution asked if he was willing to provide a copy of the WhatsApp communication, he replied: “My phone was broken three months ago, everything in memory was lost.”

However, as part of the evidence offered in advance to certify his allegations, he did present WhatsApp messages from his phone from July 2020 to the court.

Nemi Dib was general director of the state DIF between 2010 and 2012, and a member of the public administration headed by Javier Duarte until its conclusion in November 2016, with an absence of two years.

He stated that during his presence at the DIF everything went like Swiss watch. “All our programs were met and the materials were delivered,” although he admitted never having seen the inventory with his own eyes or what was going in or out of the warehouses.

Macías Tubilla faces British justice on conditional release and bail of 150 thousand pounds sterling. She is accused of fraud, particularly for the possible diversion of 112 million pesos in contracts that the Veracruz DIF between 2011 and 2012, through a network of front companies.

Nemi Dib, 59, previously offered two written testimony and 28 supporting documents. She said she suffered from insomnia, depression and fear as a result of 6 years of aggression by the Mexican State, as well as having spent 16 months in prison for crimes that she claimed she did not commit when she was in charge of the Ministry of Health.

For his part, the legal representative of the Mexican government tried to question the veracity of his statements and show contradictions in his statements.

The prosecutor embarrassed the witness when he asked why he reported threats, abuse and torture until September 27, 2018, a day after Duarte pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

“Do you think that once the process against Duarte was over, you could modify your version?” asked the prosecutor after receiving the answer “I categorically deny it.”
The hearing to determine the delivery or not of Macías to the Mexican justice system will continue this Thursday and Friday.