Jailed Salinas Claims Plot Against Brother

The imprisoned brother of Mexico’s former president claims he was framed for the murder of a political rival in a complex plot to discredit his brother, Mexican newspapers reported Friday.

In his first comments to the media since he was arrested 2 1/2 years ago, Raul Salinas de Gortari said the plot included the killing of at least two top officials in the ruling party and the kidnapping of prominent businessmen.

Declaring he was “ready to break his silence,” Raul Salinas accused former prosecutor Pablo Chapa Bezanilla of involvement in the alleged scheme to tar his brother, Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

“There was an attack against the government of Carlos Salinas in 1994,” Raul Salinas said in comments to Mexican newspapers.

“It is no coincidence that in that year the assassinations and kidnappings of businessmen occurred. My imprisonment is part of this series.”

Raul Salinas was arrested in February 1995, just months after his brother’s term ended, and charged with masterminding the 1994 killing of the No. 2 man in the ruling party, who also was his brother-in-law.

He was also charged with taking as much as $130 million in bribes during his term as head of a government food subsidy program and banking the money in foreign accounts.

Raul Salinas said Chapa Bezanilla framed him for the murder of Francisco Ruiz Massieu in order to embarrass Carlos Salinas.

Chapa Bezanilla, wanted in Mexico on charges of falsifying evidence in another high-profile case--the 1994 murder of the ruling party candidate for president--is being held in a Spanish jail while authorities decide whether to extradite him.

The attorney general’s office refused comment on the allegations Friday.

Carlos Salinas left office in 1994. His reputation was shattered by an economic crisis that developed immediately after his term. He has been living in self-imposed exile, most recently in Ireland.