Mexican President Formally Protests UK Asylum for Ex-First Lady Accused of Corruption
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government will send a formal letter of complaint to United Kingdom officials after Karime Macías, the ex-wife of a jailed former state governor, was granted asylum in Britain. Macías is wanted for extradition to Mexico on allegations of embezzling nearly £5 million in public funds and is believed to be residing in London's affluent Belgravia district.
"How Can a Woman Accused of Fraud Be Granted Asylum?"
President Sheinbaum publicly questioned the UK's decision, stating, "How can a woman accused of fraud and corruption be granted asylum?" She confirmed that a formal letter expressing this position is being dispatched. Neither the British embassy nor Macías' legal representatives have commented on the matter, and the UK Home Office maintains its policy of not discussing individual cases.
The asylum grant was initially reported by Mexican news outlet N+, highlighting a case that has drawn international attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the high-profile status of the individuals involved.
Background: The Duarte-Macías Corruption Scandal
Karime Macías served as First Lady of Veracruz from December 2010 to October 2016, during the tenure of her husband, former Governor Javier Duarte. Duarte resigned amid widespread allegations of organised crime and embezzlement, accused of siphoning billions of pounds from state coffers. Their alleged crimes became emblematic of the systemic corruption that has long plagued Mexico, particularly during the administration of former President Enrique Peña Nieto.
Transparency International currently ranks Mexico 141st out of 182 countries in its corruption perceptions index, underscoring the persistent challenges the nation faces.
Luxury Lifestyle and Alleged Embezzlement
During her time as First Lady, Macías reportedly enjoyed significant luxuries, including access to a 15-acre ranch valued at $9.7 million, adorned with paintings by renowned Latin American artists. As head of the state welfare office, she is accused of awarding multi-million-pound contracts to shell companies. Authorities later discovered a warehouse containing goods belonging to the couple, including Macías' personal notebooks.
In a recent press conference, President Sheinbaum displayed a page from one such notebook where Macías had repeatedly written, "I deserve abundance."
Flight to London and Legal Battles
Following Duarte's arrest in Guatemala and subsequent imprisonment in Mexico on money laundering and conspiracy charges, Macías vanished from public view. In 2018, a Mexican judge issued an arrest warrant for her on embezzlement charges. Shortly after, then-Governor Miguel Ángel Yunes presented surveillance findings alleging she was living opulently in London.
The investigation revealed Macías resided in a Belgravia home, less than a mile from Buckingham Palace, with reported monthly expenditures exceeding £60,000, including visits to a "face gym" for facial muscle treatments. Interpol reportedly issued a red notice for her arrest, though she no longer appears on their wanted list.
British authorities detained Macías in October 2019, but she was released on £150,000 bail with an ankle monitor. In 2022, Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled in favour of her extradition, but her legal team filed multiple appeals, arguing the case had expired—a claim the Mexican foreign ministry allegedly failed to disclose to UK authorities.
Asylum Grant and Ongoing Controversy
Macías subsequently applied for asylum in the UK, alleging political persecution by the Mexican government. Reports indicate she was granted asylum last year, a decision President Sheinbaum has strongly condemned. She also raised questions about the source of Macías' wealth, noting, "This person, who has been living in the UK for quite some time now, who knows where they got the money? Because having children there, living in a special place, where did they get it from?"
Meanwhile, Mexican prosecutors have sought to extend Duarte's sentence, citing additional embezzlement of £215,000 from a state fund intended to support children and the elderly. The case continues to highlight tensions between international justice, asylum protocols, and the fight against corruption.
