SEX SCANDAL
Mexican consul dismissed over leaked video
The man who served as Mexico's consul in Leamington has been dismissed after a video reportedly showing him performing a sexual act in his office was posted on social media last month.
A portion of the video published on Feb. 28 by an anonymous Twitter account — since removed — is still available online and appears to show Alberto Bernal Acero sitting in his office and unbuttoning his pants, his yellow-striped tie askew.
Mexican media reports say the now-deleted full-length clip went on to show Bernal Acero masturbating.
In a written statement provided to Mexican news outlets, Bernal Acero confirmed the video was real but said it was taken in 2019 and recorded without his knowledge. He claimed the illicit footage was used to extort money from him and was published when he refused to continue paying.
The statement also said he was willing to present his case to authorities in an effort to defend his reputation.
Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed Bernal Acero from his position pending an investigation.
In an email to the Star on Friday, a spokesperson with the ministry said “as soon as it became aware of
the issue, it recalled the consul, instructing him to return to Mexico City as swiftly as possible.
“Due to the nature of the complaint, investigations are underway to determine the corresponding measures to be taken. The Foreign Ministry has notified the Canadian authorities of this situation.”
The Mexican ministry, the statement continued, “reiterates its zero-tolerance policy for acts of harassment and other behaviours that violate the law or its code of ethics.”
Bernal Acero has been Mexico's consul in Leamington since 2015. Before that, he reportedly served as deputy director general of consular services with the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2015.
He was consul at the Mexican consulate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 2004 to 2008, and consul of Mexico in Dallas, Texas, from 2008 to 2011.