Published on 26 January 2015 by TeleSur English

Moises Sanchez

Authorities from Mexico's Veracruz state announced Sunday that they had found the body of missing local journalist José Moisés Sanchez Cerezo and accused the mayor of Medellín de Bravo, Omar Cruz Reyes, of masterminding Sanchez’s abduction and murder.

Veracruz state’s attorney general, Luis Angel Bravo released a statement on Sunday stating that that former municipal police confessed to participating in Sanchez's murder along with five other people at the instructions of the deputy director of the town's police force allegedly at the request of Cruz. Sanchez was abducted by armed men three weeks ago.

Bravo also issued formal murder charges against Cruz and requested the state congress to remove the mayor’s immunity so that he may be prosecuted.

According to a 2011 report by Journalists Without Borders, Veracruz was among the 10 most dangerous cities in the world to practice journalism. 

A new study released by the National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) found that 97 journalists have been killed in Mexico in connection with their work since 2010.

With Mayor Cruz now facing legal charges and impeachment proceedings, the case again exposes the links between Mexico’s local authorities and criminal organizations.

The case coincides with ongoing outrage over the disappearances of the 43 Ayotzinapa students in the state of Iguala, in which various municipal government officials have been implicated in the case.