The controversial Mexican writer and businessman, Andrés Roemer, who resides in Israel, may soon have to appear before the justice system of his native Mexico City, and could even be imprisoned, as his appeal against an arrest warrant has been denied. The former TV Azteca executive, who has been with the company for over five years, is accused of rape.

Six years ago, what seemed like Roemer’s perfect life came crashing down when the famous dancer Itzel Shanaas broke her silence and claimed that the Mexican diplomat had sexually harassed her in his home, after telling her it was a work meeting for the Ajusco company. This was followed by several other women, including the well-known actress Marta Cristiana, bringing the total number of accusations to at least 60, all related to various forms of sexual and gender violence, from women who requested anonymity.

Andrés Roemer es detenido en Israel; está acusado de abuso en México

With sufficient evidence to link him to the case, Roemer filed an appeal to avoid being summoned to court and, of course, to prevent being arrested once he sets foot on Mexican soil. The appeal has been under review for the past couple of months, while he remains in Israel, confident that they will not allow his deportation to Mexico due to the lack of an extradition treaty in the past.

Initially, Julio Veredín Sena Velázquez, the head of the Seventh District Court in Criminal Matters, ruled that Roemer’s appeal against his detention was denied, firmly rejecting the idea that he was being protected in any way. “There is information indicating that the complainant likely took actions under investigation with the intent to commit a crime. The data provided were objectively evaluated by the judge in charge,” he said.

Opinión | Andrés Roemer basó su poder en el silencio de víctimas como yo. No lo tendrá nunca más. - The Washington Post

In other words, the judge deemed the evidence sufficient to issue the arrest warrant against the accused, as it was considered that there were reasonable indications that the crimes described by law were committed and that the accused participated in their commission, he added.

Although Andrés remains in Israel, a year ago, an Israeli court determined that Roemer is extraditable, which means that he could be brought from Israel to face justice in Mexico. This would result in his immediate detention upon arrival in his home country, where he would then face prosecution for all the sexual abuse charges currently filed against him.