The former mayor of San Blas, Nayarit, who earned notoriety after he declared that he had only “stolen a little” while in office, is now facing charges of improper performance of duty, embezzlement and fraud.

The state Attorney General’s office said Hilario “Layín” Ramírez Villanueva was charged along with two collaborators in his municipal administration.

The Nayarit state auditor presented a formal complaint against Ramírez in March for the embezzlement of 12 million pesos (about US $640,000 at the time).

The amount was allegedly stolen through the sale of a municipal landing strip in 2016 that was never registered in the treasury.

Ramírez attended a hearing in the case last week, after which he declared that “it had gone well” and that he had “never stolen from anyone.”

He later told the broadcaster Grupo Fórmula that his 2014 statement —”I only stole a little” — was “just a joke.”

Ramírez made the statement during his campaign for a second term as mayor in reference to his first term. He went on to win a second time despite his admission.

A political opponent later said Ramírez hadn’t just stolen a little but “stole it all.”

Source: Milenio (sp)