Rosarito Policeman to Be Prosecuted for Attempted Bribe

In Playas del Rosarito last week, a Municipal police officer was suspended and is under investigation for extortion, according to various sources, including Tijuana’s daily Frontera and El Vigia.

Officer Julio Núñez Ulloa allegedly arranged to accept payment from a motorist in exchange for not citing the driver and owner of the automobile for having expired license plates.

The victim allegedly was asked for 2000 pesos (around $160) in order to not cite him for the past-due placas, but that amount was negotiated down to half of that, some 1000 pesos.The payment was to take place in a different location, and as both the officer and the victim had Nextel cellular service, they exchanged numbers.

The plan unraveled when the victim then notified the department of public safety, reported the bribe attempt, and gave officials the officer's cell-phone number, through which the alleged briber was identified.

There will be a hearing at a future date to decide the fate of the officer, who will remain suspended, pending the outcome.

Rosarito's police department has recently undergone changes, including the replacement of their chief of police, and they have instituted a “zero corruption" program as part of their policy. Julio César Reyes González was recently appointed chief of the municipal transit police.