Mexico’s Ambassador to Argentina has been called home after a report that he tried to shoplift a $10 biography on Casanova from one of the world’s most famous bookstores.
Oscar Ricardo Valero Recio Becerra was recalled on Sunday by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard after newspaper reports that he tried to steal the 590-peso book on the famous 18th century playboy from El Ateneo in Buenos Aires at the end of October.
Ebrard said in a Twitter post that he asked the ministry’s ethics committee to analyze the accusation against the 76-year-old diplomat and if a video of the alleged theft that’s circulating proves to be true, he’ll be removed from his job immediately.
— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) 9 de diciembre de 2019
He solicitado al Comité de Ética analice el caso de Embajador en Argentina acusado de robar libros en famosa librería. Por lo pronto he ordenado regrese a casa. De comprobarse que el video es veraz será separado del cargo inmediatamente. Cero tolerancia a la deshonestidad.
I have asked the Ethics Committee to analyze the case of the Ambassador in Argentina accused of stealing a book in a famous bookstore. For now I have ordered him to return home. If it is verified that the video is true, he will be separated from the position immediately. Zero tolerance for dishonesty.
Mexico’s ambassador to the South American nation was named by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and had previously been a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
He spent much of his academic career studying political science and Mexico’s role in international relations, and was also ambassador to Chile from 2001 to 2004.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reiterated that the Foreign Ministry analyzes the case of the ambassador of Mexico in Argentina, Oscar Ricardo Valero Recio Becerra, who was allegedly caught stealing a book in Buenos Aires, and called for “no lynching” for this case.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom
