MEXICO CITY — The leader of Mexico's Death Saint cult has been detained on suspicion of participating in a kidnapping ring, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The "Santa Muerte" cult has become popular among drug traffickers in Mexico, in part because followers believe the skeletal figure of the female "saint" may protect them from death or arrest.
David Romo, the self-styled archbishop of the church, was one of nine suspects placed under a form of house arrest for 30 days pending investigation.
Romo told reporters at a news conference called by prosecutors to announce the detentions that he is the victim of political persecution and claimed he was tortured.
"In this pre-election time, they are moving (against) a lot of innocent people, to fill their quotas," Romo said. He said he didn't even known some of the other eight suspects.
He also charged that he had been "severely tortured" with electric shocks and beatings.
