Genaro García Luna, the former secretary of public security, tried to sell the Israeli government’s spying system Pegasus to the Coahuila government headed by Humberto Moreira in 2008, Hector Villarreal Hernández, the former state treasurer, said yesterday.
Before a New York Eastern District Court jury, the former officer assured that the relationship between Moreira and García Luna was close and explained that the offer of the spying software occurred on the occasion that the former police commander offered him a tour of Mexico City. In the Central Intelligence Office of the Ministry of Public Security.
On that occasion, the former secretary showed him how the spyware worked; However, the witness said, the purchase did not happen because state officials feared being spied on by their federal counterparts.
Villarreal said, “We thought if we found that software, it was a company running it in Mexico. Maybe people are stepping in and listening to everything.”
Pegasus allows remote access to a cell phone and obtains personal information. There are reports that the Pegasus has been used in Mexico to spy on journalists and political figures; However, this has not been mentioned during the trial.
In the trial against García Luna in the United States for alleged cocaine trafficking, organized crime and perjury, a witness said that on that occasion he had met with the man in charge of public security of the Felipe Calderón administration.
Description
Villarreal, who pleaded guilty to money laundering in the United States, during Moreira’s tenure, between 2005 and 2011, for the way public resources were used to finance political campaigns and for bribing media that carried negative coverage. Diverted for purchase of immovable property, details thereof. for the then governor and political campaigns.
Villarreal, who was being investigated by US authorities because of financial operations in that country, turned himself in in 2014 and was released after settling with prosecutors over nine million dollars in bank accounts and assets.
Anthony Wayne, the former United States Ambassador to Mexico from 2011 to 2015, also appeared before the jury.
The diplomat said he met García Luna and on one occasion went to dinner at her home, a property without ostentation, although it contained a large saltwater aquarium.
Wayne said that he visited federal police facilities, which seemed impressive to him, and that with García Luna he talked about Mexican plans to turn that corporation over to the FBI.
