Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News

The mother of one of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel bosses has been released from prison after a judge reportedly found evidence of her having been psychologically tortured by the authorities.

Maria Eva Ortiz, mother of Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, alias El Marro, leader of the Santa Rosa Cartel, has been released from Puentecillas prison, in central Mexican state of Guanajuato, after a week spent in preventative custody there.

She was arrested in San Isidro Elguera, in the municipality of Celaya, also Guanajuato state along with 28 other people including El Marro’s sister, Juana and his cousin Rosalba.

The judge in charge of the investigation, named by local media as Paulina Irais Medina Manzano, ordered Ortiz’s release, along with another four people who were arrested on 20th June, as she found prosecutors did not have enough evidence to charge them with drug trafficking.

The cartel leader’s sister and cousin were among those released, according to reports.

Ortiz’s lawyer says the judge had also “found rational evidence” that the suspects had been psychologically tortured by the authorities and the judge has reportedly ordered an investigation into this.

The lawyer said there were abnormalities in the operation to arrest the drug lord’s mother, adding that it was carried out without a proper warrant.

The mother’s arrest comes after El Marro’s wife was arrested in the community of San Miguel Octopan, in Celaya municipality in January before being released days later after a judge found her arrest was illegal.

The drug lord’s father was also recently arrested whilst driving a stolen car but he was released after paying bail.

El Marro has blamed the rival Jalisco New Generation Cartel for the arrests as he fights a bloody turf war with them for control of the state of Guanajuato.

He is one of the most-wanted people in Mexico and his gang are responsible for drug trafficking, oil theft, kidnapping and blackmailing.