Lawyer of Genaro García Luna, former Secretary of Security of Mexico, says that he has no way to pay for his defense

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Genaro García Luna, from super police to detained 4:04

(CNN Spanish) - The lawyer of Genaro García Luna, former secretary of Public Security of Mexico, said Tuesday that he has no way of checking if he has funds to pay the costs of his legal defense because the Mexican government has frozen his bank accounts

César Castro, who acts as an ex officio lawyer for García Luna, made that statement during a brief hearing in a federal court in New York, where he is charged with four charges of drug trafficking, accepting bribes from the Sinaloa cartel and Give false statements to the authorities. García Luna has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

García Luna was Secretary of Public Security between 2006 and 2012, when he moved to live in Florida. He was arrested on December 10 in Texas and then transferred to New York.

• Arrested in the US to former Secretary of Public Security of Mexico Genaro García Luna

His name came to light during the trial against El Chapo Guzmán, when Jesús “El Rey” Zambada, one of the collaborating witnesses who testified against Guzmán, claimed to have paid him millions of dollars in bribes while controlling the Federal Police, in exchange for providing protection to the cartel.

Castro, García Luna's defender, told reporters after Tuesday's hearing that his lawyer had been appointed by the criminal justice law to represent him and that “the question now is whether he has the resources to hire and pay a lawyer” . At this time, he added, "Mexico has restricted its access to the financial system."

Castro also said Garcia Luna has been under special security measures at the Manhattan Correctional Center where he has been held since January and where. According to the lawyer, until nine days ago he was under solitary confinement without being able to have contact with his family.

• The former secretary of public security of Mexico pleads not guilty for cocaine trafficking and false declaration

“His family had no access to him. It is very difficult for him, because he had no contact with anyone. Now it is improving. His health is fine, ”said de Castro.

At the hearing on Tuesday, federal judge Brian Cogan cataloged the process against García Luna as complex due to the voluminous evidence that covers more than two decades that the prosecution intends to present, including financial and property records, in addition to several devices electronic obtained through court orders and agreements with other governments.

Cogan fixed the next hearing for April 2 at 10 in the morning.

For now, his lawyer says Garcia Luna is not negotiating a plea agreement with the prosecution, nor is he interested in one, because the former official denies receiving bribes during his term.

Before the next hearing, de Castro plans to submit a bail request to the court.

Genaro García Luna