Mexican federal judge Advento Hernández Reyna has determined to definitively suspend the arrest warrant issued in April against Alejandro Irarragorri, current president of Orlegi Sports and former manager of Club Santos Laguna. Following this decision, the injunction trial requested by the businessman’s legal team continues.l
According to the newspaper Reforma, the ruling also prevents the imposition of preventive detention, even if it were to be requested during Irarragorri‘s appearance before the Control Judge in Torreón, in the framework of the criminal proceeding for alleged tax fraud for more than US$700,000. Both Irarragorri and Club Santos have expressed their categorical rejection of this accusation.
In a statement dated April 25, Santos Laguna – owned by Orlegi Sports – stated that the alleged arrest warrant was in response to an alleged absence of Alejandro Irarragorri from a court hearing convened by District Judge Luis Alfredo Mendoza García, in Torreón. However, the Club considered that such interpretation was incorrect and did not conform to the facts.
Legal response of Alejandro Irarragorri and Santos Laguna
According to the statement issued by the Laguna entity, a virtual hearing was held on March 20, which Alejandro Irarragorri attended in a timely manner. However, the judge decided to suspend it in the middle of its development and reschedule it for March 24. The defense argues that, since no formal warning has been issued, his eventual non-attendance cannot justify the adoption of precautionary measures. Subsequently, a writ of amparo was filed before the federal courts.
Judge Hernández Reyna explained that there are no signs that Alejandro Irarragorri intends to evade the judicial process, and therefore authorized that his arraignment hearing be held via videoconference, a legal mechanism that ensures his appearance and respect for due process.
Likewise, the court emphasized that it would be unjustified to remand him in custody without having reviewed the defense’s arguments. According to Reforma, the court considered that the businessman has shown willingness to cooperate with the authorities, and that it is not appropriate to apply prior punitive measures against a public figure who represents Santos Laguna, a club of great relevance in national soccer.
The Attorney General’s Office initiated the criminal investigation in 2023, as a result of a complaint filed by the Tax Administration Service (SAT). However, the background of the conflict dates back to 2020, when audits related to the Club’s ISR began.
From there, an administrative litigation was opened due to discrepancies in the interpretation of tax provisions. The Club‘s institutional position has been firm in maintaining that this type of controversy should be settled through the established administrative channels and not lead to criminal cases.In the communiqué issued on April 25, the Comarca Lagunera institution categorically rejected that a discrepancy of this nature, “which can and should be settled through administrative channels, should be transferred to the criminal sphere”
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