Mexico mayor accused of plotting to kidnap himself in $2M embezzlement plan; husband, brother-in-law also involved

A Mexican mayor faces charges that she staged her own kidnapping to embezzle about $2 million in public funds in ransom.Nancy Napolis, the mayor of Tenancingo, a few hours’ drive from Mexico City, denied the accusations, saying they were politically motivated. She posted a video on social media insisting she was innocent and describing the case as “politicized.”“Napoli is a member of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ruling Morena party, which has made fighting corruption a central theme of its government.Prosecutors said they are seeking testimony from Naples on July 9 regarding a “mock kidnapping.” No arrest warrant has been issued for her at this stage, although her husband and brother-in-law are both wanted and are currently on the run.According to investigators, Naples was forced out of the vehicle at gunpoint by armed men. The case is based in part on confessions from three suspects who have been arrested. The group initially reported that the kidnappers demanded “40 million pesos” in exchange for her freedom, or about $2.3 million, and threatened to kill her and her family if payment was not made.A ransom demand is a scheme to conceal stolen public funds. Prosecutors said Napoli’s relatives suggested that if the ransom could not be raised, the money should be withdrawn from local government resources. The plot began to unravel after a witness saw the mayor being taken away and called the police. This led investigators to question the circumstances of the alleged kidnapping and uncover inconsistencies in the accounts.Authorities also released images they said showed evidence of a planned kidnapping. They further said Napoli’s husband and brother-in-law helped orchestrate the scheme, using funds that had been misappropriated and trying to “justify the money.”“#FiscalíaEdoméx detained three individuals, namely Karla Valeria ‘N’, Víctor Manuel ‘N’ and Christian ‘N’,” the state prosecutor’s office Fiscalía Edoméx said in a statement.“It also requested a hearing to establish charges against a municipal civil servant and holds valid judicial warrants for the arrest of two other men, all of whom are allegedly related to the ‘kidnapping’ of a woman with the initials NNP,” it added. He serves as City President of #Tenancingo and the incident occurred on May 31 this year.“These individuals would simulate the kidnapping of the president in exchange for a reward of 40 million pesos in exchange for the ‘victim’s freedom.’”Naples has denied the accusations and said she is ready to cooperate with investigators. “The guilty actors are punished,” she said, adding that she would help clarify what happened.