Former Notary 65 of Tulum in Hot Water for Illegal Document Issuance

Several instances of corruption and illegal activity have been identified involving the former holder of Notary 65 of Tulum, Salvador Lopecedeño Estefan. Estefan is accused of unlawfully issuing documents, despite having resigned from his public notary position in October 2022 following involvement in various scandals.

Upon his resignation, Estefan was prohibited from signing deeds, certifying legal facts, providing testimonies, and performing other notarial functions. However, he has reportedly continued to practice without a license, in clear violation of the law.

The Director General of Notaries of Quintana Roo, Gerardo René García Hernández, has been criticized for failing to revoke the patent of Notary 65. As a result, Estefan has retained the seal, testimonies, and documents associated with his former position and continues to issue deeds unlawfully.

Estefan's continued practice could result in a prison sentence of up to three years, as per the Penal Code of Quintana Roo. Despite his resignation, Estefan did not surrender the notarial seal to the Legal Council of the State, raising concerns about potential governmental protection.

The Treasury and the Public Registry of Property have reportedly allowed Estefan to perform legal procedures as a notary, despite his lack of a patent. This has raised suspicions of corruption among public officials. For instance, in December 2022, the Tulum treasury accepted a deed procedure from Estefan, even though he was no longer serving as a notary.

Estefan is also facing a complaint for fraud (FGE/QROO/SOL/5157/2023). In 2023, despite no longer holding a notarial patent, he agreed to execute a deed and pay the rights for a piece of land in Isla Mujeres. In 2021, he reportedly received a significant sum of money from French humanist René Mey, but failed to execute the agreed-upon transaction, leading to a confrontation.

In March 2022, a video of Estefan knocking down a gate with his vehicle after being denied access went viral, leading to public reprimand from the governor, Mara Lezama. Estefan resigned from his position a few months later.

The Aftermath

The documents in question are property of the State Government. The Directorate or its current Director should have closed the protocol, conducted an inventory, and facilitated the handover of all protocols, seal, testimonies, and documents upon Estefan's resignation.