Mexican Supreme Court Penalizes Grupo Elektra’s Ricardo Salinas for Obstructing Justice

Vancouver, British Columbia Mar 5, 2025  – Mexico’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), has penalized Ricardo Salinas Pliego for purposefully hindering the resolution of a tax dispute through the use of excessive and baseless legal tactics.

Mexican tax authorities have consistently assessed that Ricardo Salinas and his various businesses owe the Mexican government approximately USD $5 billion. However, Salinas has reportedly refused to pay and has instead pursued numerous appeals and legal strategies to avoid payment, all while publicly displaying his opulent lifestyle on social media, including his yachts and private jets.

The SCJN determined that Grupo Elektra and Ricardo Salinas personally participated in a systematic obstruction of the legal process by submitting 38 frivolous appeals, 15 frivolous impediments, 19 frivolous claims, and four frivolous conflicts of jurisdiction, all purportedly intended solely to delay proceedings and avoid compliance with court orders. Of these, three impediments and eight appeals have been resolved, while four conflicts of jurisdiction were dismissed, leaving 27 cases awaiting resolution. Consequently, the SCJN has sanctioned Salinas for these unsubstantiated legal actions.

This obstruction is allegedly part of a broader strategy employed by Ricardo Salinas and Grupo Elektra to postpone rulings on over USD $5 billion owed to the Tax Administration Service (SAT). By lodging multiple frivolous claims and impediments against four Supreme Court ministers, Grupo Elektra purportedly succeeded in stalling the resolution of its tax liability, potentially delaying a final decision until after judicial elections.

Furthermore, Supreme Court Justice Loretta Ortiz Ahlf recently accused Ricardo Salinas of attempted bribery, alleging that he sought to influence a favorable ruling in order to avoid fulfilling his tax obligations to the Mexican government.

The Supreme Court’s decision to impose sanctions emphasizes what it considers to be the company’s repeated attempts to evade legal and financial responsibility. Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd expresses its support for the SCJN’s efforts to maintain judicial integrity and prevent Ricardo Salinas from exploiting the legal system to avoid accountability.

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