Mexican Writer Andres Roemer Arrested In Israel Amid Sex Crime Accusations

Mexican writer and former diplomat Andres Roemer, who has faced a barrage of accusations involving sex crimes, was apprehended in Israel, announced Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador during his regular morning press conference on Monday. The Mexican leader stated that Roemer "will be extradited" back to Mexico to face the allegations against him. The allegations against Roemer began to surface in February 2021 when Mexican dancer Itzel Schnaas came forward, accusing him of sexual assault. These accusations, now numbering around 60 according to activists, have cast a shadow over Roemer's reputation. Roemer, aged 60, who previously served as the Mexican consul in San Francisco and held the role of goodwill ambassador to UNESCO, vehemently denied the initial accusation. However, as more allegations mounted, including claims of inappropriate conduct with women he met under the pretext of work, Roemer withdrew from social media. Mexico initiated the extradition request for Roemer in June 2021, seeking his return to face the charges and allegations against him. The country's foreign ministry released a statement confirming that Israeli authorities detained Roemer on Sunday "for extradition purposes, at the request of the Mexican Government." It's noteworthy that there are no formal extradition treaties in place between Mexico and Israel. However, the arrest was executed based on the principles of reciprocity and international cooperation, underpinned by the positive bilateral relationship shared by the two nations across various sectors. Roemer's arrest in Israel marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the allegations against him, as Mexico seeks to ensure that justice is served in this high-profile case.