The case of imprisoned Canadian Brenda Martin will hopefully be resolved in the next few weeks, Mexico's foreign secretary said Tuesday.
Martin, a 51-year-old Ontario woman, has been awaiting trial in Mexico for two years, accused of taking part in a $60-million fraud scheme orchestrated by her former boss Alyn Waage.
She denies the claims and maintains her innocence, saying she was simply Waage's chef, and invested in his company believing him to be a legitimate businessman.
Patricia Espinosa, the Mexican cabinet minister, told reporters in Washington Tuesday that Mexican officials "are hoping that in the next weeks we will have a final resolution."
She did not offer specific details on when that might be, or what the resolution procedure would include.
Espinosa made the comments after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The meeting was a prelude to a summit of North American leaders to be held in New Orleans later this month.
"We cannot really tell the judges exactly what they should do but we have really encouraged them to resolve this case as fast as possible," said Espinosa.
She also said the issue is constantly being discussed with Canadian representatives in Mexico.
"The Canadian consulate has been able to see all the processes that have been going on and of course there has been very broad access to Ms. Martin," Espinosa said.
"So broad that she has been able to give press conferences from where she is."
Omar Khadr
Meanwhile, Bernier was questioned about the case of Omar Khadr -- the Canadian who is currently being held in an American prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Khadr, the Toronto-born son of an alleged al Qaeda financier, was captured by U.S. soldiers in July 2002 following a firefight in Afghanistan.
Khadr, then 15, was eventually transferred to Guantanamo Bay following allegations he threw a grenade during the firefight, killing a U.S. soldier. His lawyers say the U.S. is contravening international agreements and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by treating him as adult.
Bernier said he has received assurances from U.S. officials that Khadr is being treated humanely.
However, the minister refused to say much more on the issue.
"Mr. Khadr faces serious charges and it will be premature to comment about the legal process right now,'' he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
