The judge of the Sixth Investigative Court of the National District, Yanibet Rivas, partially accepted a request from the lawyers of Jochi Gomez and Hugo Berasto give them a period of time to be able to introduce their means of defenses and gave them 20 days more to do them.
In that sense, this Monday’s hearing of the preliminary trial of the corruption case, whose investigation was called Operation Chameleonit was postponed to Monday December 15.
Beras, Gómez and others eight accusedas well as seven companies, are accused of scam the state, sabotage and terrorism against the traffic light network of Greater Santo Domingo and which, according to the Public Ministry, began in a staggered process with the irregular acquisition of contracts under the management of the former director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant).
They asked for 60 days
The lawyer Laura Acostarepresentative of Hugo Beras He had requested a period of 60 days, alleging that he needed more time to analyze the alleged evidence presented against the former official.
The others were added to that request. defensesamong them Ingrid Hidalgowho asked 45 days.
The Public Ministry responded that 25 days were enough.
Gomez: “We are calm”
The main accused in operation chameleon and who do I know link the seven companies who are also accused, said he was “don’t worry“and that he will face the criminal process that follows him.
He stated that he is prepared to face the criminals in court. prosecutors who are pursuing him in the criminal accusation, whose recordhe said, it was delivered “right now”.
Hugo Berasformer director of Intrant, did not want to speak with the press.
The indictment file contains 338 pages.
Company declared in default
Judge Yanibet Rivas declared in rebellion to the company Dominican Soltex Industrywhich is also linked to Jochi Gomez and which was not represented this Monday before the court.
Depending on the organ, Soltex Dominican received funds of illicit origin from the network, which were then reintroduced into the formal economy through apparent commercial operations.
“From their accounts, payments intended for operations smuggling and transnational launderingconstituting a piece of financial support in the criminal structure,” states the Public Ministry.
Signs
The accusation of Operation Chameleon reveals that, between March and August 2024, unauthorized installations of new traffic light regulators were carried out at night in different parts of Greater Santo Domingo to take over the traffic light system by order of José Ángel Gómez Canaán (Jochi Gómez).
The others charged Pedro Vinicio Padovani Báez and Carlos José Peguero Vargas would have directed the work outside of regular hours, without the supervision or approval of Intrant.
He sabotage and the acts of terrorism against the traffic light network were supposedly carried out to pressure and destabilize the Dominican State after the beginning of investigations and audits against the defendants who were uncovered with Intrant’s irregular hiring of the company Transcore Latamowned by Gómez.
He suspended contract with the company Transcore Latam due to irregularities in the tender amounted to an amount higher than the 1.3 billion of pesos.
The accused They are, in addition to Beras and Gómez, Manuel Edward Blackberry, general manager of Pago RD Exchange, Mariano Gustini, Henry Darío Féliz Casso, Pedro Vinicio Padovani Báez, former head of the Intrant Traffic Control Center; Samuel Gregorio Baquero Sepúlveda, former Director of Technology; Frank Diaz Wardenformer Office coordinator and representative of Beras before the Purchasing Committee; Juan Francisco Álvarez Carbuccia, administrative and financial director, and Carlos José Peguero Vargas.
The companies that are also accused are Transcore LatamSRL, PaymentRD XchangeSRL, Industry Soltex DominicanSRL, Dekolor SRL, Aurix SAS, Inprosol, SRL and OML Inversiones, SRL
