The irregularities committed by those involved in the structure of the Camaleón case, which operated in the National Institute of Traffic and Land Transportation (Intrant), were designed to favor companies linked to the corruption network headed by José Ángel Gómez Canaán (Jochi Gómez) with contracts.
According to the Public Ministry’s accusation, the defendants engaged in accounting manipulation, a coalition of officials and intellectual falsehood in public documentswith the aim of diverting state funds to benefit the business network controlled by Jochi Gómez.
Each of those involved in the corruption organization in the Camaleón case had a specific role. José Ángel Gómez Canaán (Jochi Gómez) was the beneficial owner of the fraudulent contracts entered into with Transcore Latam SRL, Dekolor SRL and PagoRD Xchange SRL
Through his company Aurix SAS, Gómez Canaán fraudulently controlled the traffic light and video surveillance systems of Intrant, in addition to introducing espionage equipment used during the elections in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also used PagoRD Xchange SRL and OML Inversiones SRL to mobilize illegally obtained funds, in typical money laundering actions.
The accusatory document indicates that Jochi Gómez was the main person responsible for the sabotage of the Greater Santo Domingo traffic light network, which occurred at the end of August 2024, considered an act of terrorism against critical infrastructure of the Dominican State.
Likewise, the file indicates that Hugo Beras, former executive director of Intrant between August 2022 and November 2023, directed and authorized the fraudulent award of million-dollar contracts to companies without the required technical capabilities.
Beras would have been key in the integration of new authorities into the manipulated project and facilitated the participation of portfolio companies that diverted State resources.
The former official is accused of association of criminals, fraud against the State, ideological falsehood and coalition of officials, among other crimes, being identified as the main facilitator of corruption in the management of the traffic light network and the video surveillance system.
For his part, Frank Rafael Atilano Díaz Warden, office coordinator and representative of Hugo Beras before the Intrant Purchasing Committee, actively participated in the irregular awarding of contracts that favored the companies of the corrupt structure. He also intervened in the manipulation of bids and in decisions that benefited those investigated.
The accused Samuel Gregorio Baquero Sepúlveda, director of Intrant Technology and in charge of the traffic light and video surveillance network of Greater Santo Domingo, was a key player in the technical coordination of the fraud. It facilitated the control of these systems to Transcore Latam SRL, a company that did not comply with the legal or technical requirements.
In addition, Baquero Sepúlveda falsified a certification in which he stated that Intrant had fully received the goods and services from Transcore Latam SRL, in order to justify a payment disbursement. Their participation compromised road safety and transparency in the use of public funds.
The accused Juan Francisco Álvarez Carbuccia, Administrative and Financial Director of Intrant, issued a false certification in which he assured that the institution had the necessary budget appropriation to begin the bidding process.
However, the funds were not requested until May 2023 or received until July, demonstrating that the process began without financial support.
Likewise, the former head of the Intrant Traffic Control Center, Pedro Vinicio Padovani Báez, partner and deputy of Gómez Canaán at Transcore Latam SRL, was key in the management and supervision of the control center.
After his resignation, he directly collaborated with that company’s fraudulent activities. He participated in the fraud of the national public tender for Intrant, in money laundering schemes, sabotage of the traffic light network and acts of terrorism against State infrastructure.
Also included in the money laundering network is Carlos José Peguero Vargas, partner of Gómez Canaán, who mobilized funds through INPROSOL SRL, diverting resources awarded to Transcore Latam SRL. While Transcore handled the technical and surveillance part, Peguero Vargas was in charge of the illicit financial structure.
Likewise, the file indicates Mariano Gustini Ponce and Manuel Eduardo Mora Vázquez, formal representatives of PagoRD Xchange SRL**, as front men for Jochi Gómez. Under its nominal administration, the company would have stolen hundreds of millions of pesos corresponding to fees and taxes collected by Intrant, which were not transferred to institutional accounts.
From these accounts, direct transfers were made to Gómez Canaán and his related companies, in addition to the purchase of luxury real estate, configuring crimes of money laundering and fraud against the State and association of criminals.
Finally, Henry Darío Féliz Casso, collaborator and personal assistant of Gómez Canaán, served as a financial intermediary in the diversion and laundering operations of public funds. He mobilized large sums without economic or commercial support, acting on behalf of his boss and delivering the stolen resources to him.
The Public Ministry accuses the group of the Camaleón case of association of criminals, fraud against the State, money laundering, sabotage of the traffic light network, terrorism against critical infrastructures of the country, embezzlement, coalition of officials, forgery, illicit enrichment among other crimes.This article was originally published in The Day
