Recent reports said that Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopes Obrador ordered on Wednesday, a probe into accusations that the former administration was irregularly awarding "lucrative contracts to a company" allegedly linked to the family of his predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto. 

According to the said report, from the year 2013 until 2018, the administration of Pena Nieto awarded more than $600 million in contracts to Plasti-Esteril, a company that his family reportedly put up in 1991.  

Also awarded the lucrative contracts El Universal, a Mexican newspaper said, was Baxter International, Inc., a firm that offers medical supplies.

Baxter, Plasti-Esteril's owner said that the firm was founded by the ex-president's family in 1991 although they sold their shares, according to reports, to different private investors a year after.

No More Shares in 1992

In a statement, Baxter also said that Pena Nieto's family completely ceased from having any "type of shares in Plasti-Esteril since 1992." The company also noted that it had complete ownership of the entire company in 1992.

Meanwhile, Lopez Obrador, during his daily media briefing said, they have to investigate if former "President Pena Nieto is involved and see how long the firm has been operational," what particular contracts it received, and if they were awarded to them directly, through proposals.

In the past, reports have it that the former Mexican president rejected allegations of wrongdoing during his administration. However, he could not be reached immediately to respond to request comments.

Lopez Obrador, who took over in December 2018, has made combating corruption among the priorities of his administration.

However, he said, his administration will not go after past Mexican presidents unless the citizens demand it. Specifically, he said, this is a "regime defined by corruption" and it takes a lot of time to clean things up.

Involvement in Scandals

Earlier this month, reports came out that the Mexican law enforcement authorities were probing ex-President Pena Nieto, involving him in some corruption scandals. 

During his time as the president of Mexico, Pena Nieto was linked to various issues on corruption. Among these included the spyware software which the government purchased to monitor human rights attorneys and journalists and the disappearance of more than 40 students

More so, early in his leadership, then his wife, got involved in the so-called "2014 Casa Blanca scandal," where she reportedly, bought a mansion "with financing from a builder who formerly got awarded by the state government contracts" while Pena Nieto was still a governor.

He reportedly apologized partly, for such an involvement. More so, according to Pena Nieto's wife, First Lady Angelica Rivera, she had the money from her career in show business, specifically, as a star for a soap opera but she returned it in order to prevent any controversy.

And as mentioned, President Lopez Obrador said he does not want for his government to pursue past presidents in courts although he has recommended for the probability of "holding a referendum" on whether past country heads should face trial.

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