Mexico Supreme Court seizes Emilio Lozoya's mansion

Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice has issued a final ruling confirming that the state will seize a mansion in Lomas de Bezares valued at 51.7 million pesos. The property was purchased in 2012 by Emilio Lozoya Austin, the former director general of Pemex.

Chief Justice Hugo Aguilar dismissed the appeal filed by Lozoya, stating it did not present novel constitutional interpretation issues. The decision is unappealable. The asset forfeiture stems from a May 2024 ruling which concluded that the home was acquired using funds from an alleged bribe paid by Alonso Ancira, then-owner of Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA). The bribe was reportedly intended to ensure Pemex acquired AHMSA’s Agronitrogenados plant in Veracruz in 2013 at an inflated price of $273 million.

Lozoya had argued that the 2019 National Law of Asset Forfeiture was being applied retroactively to his 2012 purchase. However, previous courts rejected this argument. While Lozoya has not yet been convicted in the criminal proceedings regarding the AHMSA bribe, the asset forfeiture is a civil proceeding that does not require a criminal conviction to proceed.