Attorney General of Quintana Roo, Raciel López Salazar, has assured that the dispossessions reported in Tulum and Benito Juárez are being addressed promptly. He emphasized that the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Patrimonial Crimes is committed to protecting the assets of affected families, ensuring that no one is dispossessed of their property.
However, these assurances starkly contrast with recent events in Tulum, revealing significant failures and corruption within the institution. The most notable case is that of Federico Paterniti, an Italian businessman naturalized as Mexican, whose property in Tulum’s hotel zone was violently invaded in June 2024. Despite multiple court orders to restore the property, the Prosecutor’s Office has repeatedly failed to comply. This led a Control Judge to impose a fine of 108,570 pesos and 36 hours of administrative arrest on prosecutor José Luis Pimienta Salvador, who was in charge of the case.
Pimienta Salvador’s attempt to revoke the sanction was rejected by the judge, who described his arguments as malicious excuses. The judge concluded that Pimienta Salvador’s actions demonstrated legal ignorance and deliberate omission.
Paterniti’s case is just one among many in Tulum, where the so-called “Cartel of Dispossession” operates with impunity. Using falsified documents, front men, and the complicity of officials, properties like Posada Margherita and La Eufemia have been stripped, leaving workers unemployed and undermining legal security in the region.
While the Attorney General declares his commitment to justice, the reality points to a Prosecutor’s Office ensnared in corruption, continuing to rob families and businessmen. For those affected, credibility in the justice system hinges on decisive actions, not mere rhetoric.
Source: Diario Cambio 22
