• BLOCK: The Mexican government says it has frozen more than USD 19.5 million in bank accounts owned by six people including Naasón Joaquin García, leader of La Luz del Mundo mega-church, who remains in jail in California since June after being charged with child rape and trafficking.
• CASE: “The case has to do with the blocking of (accounts) of six people related to a religious group where there were donations that were given to the Church along with a practice of child pornography and sexual exploitation”, said Santiago Nieto, the head of Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
• CONTEXT: So far, the Mexico has not said whether it will press for any criminal charges against Joaquín García and his associates before Mexican courts. Founded in the 1920’s La Luz del Mundo is a Christian inspired religious movement that claims more than 1 million members in 58 countries.
• DEFENSE: “We categorically reject the accusations of illegal activities…because they harm millions of families. We are concerned about public display and stigmatization, which affects our constitutional guarantees”, the religious group said Wednesday from its main office in the city of Guadalajara.
