Mexican prosecutors arrest relatives, officials of former governor in corruption probe

MEXICO CITY – Mexican federal prosecutors have announced the arrest of the brother of former Guerrero state Gov. Angel Aguirre in a corruption case.

Carlos Aguirre and at least five former state officials or relatives of Aguirre are accused of misappropriating 287 million pesos ($19 million) from government agencies, apparently as kickbacks from construction contracts.

The suspects are being held on money-laundering charges, for allegedly diverting government funds into private bank accounts between 2012 and 2014.

Aguirre took a leave of absence Oct. 23, nearly a month after 43 college students were kidnapped by local police in the city of Iguala and turned over to a drug gang that allegedly killed them.

Aguirre was quickly painted as tolerating a level of corruption in his state that allowed the disappearances.