Sofía Soraya Von Roehrich Wins Amparo Against Mexico City’s Prosecutor over ‘Cartel Inmobiliario’ Case
In a significant ruling, a collegiate tribunal has granted an amparo to Sofía Soraya Von Roehrich de la Isla, daughter of the former Mexico City Mayor and sister of ex-delegate Christian Von Roehrich. The amparo restricts the Fiscalía General de Justicia de la Ciudad de México (FGJCDMX) from spreading information related to her ongoing legal case linked to the infamous ‘Cártel Inmobiliario.’
The Seventh Collegiate Tribunal in Penal Matters of the First Circuit confirmed a federal judge’s ruling from July 2022, ordering the FGJCDMX to abstain from circulating information containing Von Roehrich’s personal data regarding the ‘Inmobiliario Cartel’ case process. Von Roehrich was charged with organized crime in 2022.
Von Roehrich challenged the FGJCDMX’s official statements, specifically a press release published on May 16 and 23, 2023, alleging it violated her rights. The tribunal sided with Von Roehrich, ruling that the FGJCDMX lacked formalities in its communications, which should be void of sugestive language and premature declarations about her guilt. The tribunal argued that these communications exposed Von Roehrich to public judgment before a final judgment, infringing her presumption of innocence.
Despite the capital’s judicial authorities contesting the judgement, the collegiate tribunal upheld the initial decision, dismissing their appeals as invalid. Magistrates Ana Marcela Zatarain Barrett, Alberto Díaz, and Enrique Sánchez concurred that Von Roehrich had been exposed to public judgment and prejudice due to "vicious formalities" in the FGJCDMX’s communications.
This ruling sets a precedent for the prosecution’s handling of high-profile cases, emphasizing the importance of adhering to formalities and avoiding sugestive language that could prejudice defendants before a final court decision.
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