The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in Baja California Sur has formally charged a former treasury chief within the state Health Secretariat with embezzling more than 1 million pesos (roughly $55,000 USD) from public health funds.
Rogelio “N,” who headed the Treasury Department of the BCS Health Secretariat, allegedly diverted 1,095,362 pesos through 30 unauthorized bank transfers between December 2022 and November 2024. Prosecutors say the money was routed to his personal account and to accounts belonging to private individuals and companies.
Judge Imposes Travel Ban and Restricted Access
A control judge in La Paz formally bound Rogelio “N” to criminal proceedings on charges of peculado, the Mexican legal term for embezzlement of public funds. As part of the precautionary measures, the judge banned him from leaving Baja California Sur. He is also prohibited from approaching any Health Secretariat offices during the proceedings.
Investigators said additional individuals linked to the irregular transfers remain under scrutiny. Prosecutors have not yet named other suspects publicly.
Funds Came From BCS Public Health Budget
The stolen money came directly from the operating budget of the state’s public health system. The BCS Health Secretariat has faced repeated criticism in recent years over shortages of medicine, understaffing at clinics, and aging medical infrastructure across the peninsula.
La Paz and Los Cabos both depend heavily on this system for primary care services. The state’s public hospitals and clinics serve hundreds of thousands of residents, including many who lack private insurance.
Case Lands During Final Stretch of Castro Administration
The charges arrive during the closing months of Governor Víctor Castro Cosío’s administration, adding a corruption scandal to an already complicated political transition in the state. Castro, who took office in 2021, has faced criticism on multiple fronts, including public safety and health infrastructure.
Under Mexican law, the presumption of innocence applies until a final verdict is issued. The case will proceed through the state criminal court system in La Paz.
The story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.