Renowned Mexican journalist and academic Sergio Aguayo tells Nicola about the impact a civil defamation lawsuit has had on his personal and professional life. It all started in 2016 when Aguayo wrote an opinion piece, accusing former Coahuila state governor Humberto Moreira of corruption and links to organised crime groups. In a case that rumbled on for more than six years, Sergio was ordered to pay 10 million pesos – that’s more than half a million dollars – to Moreira, who said the piece had damaged his ‘honour’. During that time, Sergio experienced multiple threats and intimidation and has had to live under full police protection since.
