San Juan.- The governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, offered this Monday “cooperation” to the Dominican authorities in the investigation of a large network of corruption in that country, which could spread to the neighboring island.
A total of 19 people were arrested over the weekend in the Dominican Republic in the so-called Operation Squid, including three former ministers of the Danilo Medina Administration (José Ramón Peralta, Donald Guerrero and Gonzalo Castillo).
Guerrero, a former Minister of Finance, owns four vehicle dealerships in Puerto Rico and it is suspected that these businesses could have been used to divert part of the money from the plot.
“The Government of Puerto Rico will cooperate with the authorities of the Dominican Government in everything related to any link with Puerto Rico,” Pierluisi said in statements to the press.
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The governor said that the Department of Justice will make itself available to its Dominican counterpart in case it requires their help to clarify this case.
“If there was any illegality here, let us know,” stressed Pierluisi, who detailed the island’s law requirements to report large transactions both in the banking system and in the acquisition of vehicles.
The alleged network of corruption distracted taxpayers more than 19,000 million pesos (about 345.5 million dollars) and affected various institutions, including the Ministry of Finance. EFE
