SANTO DOMINGO- The Directorate for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (PEPCA) denounced that the defense lawyers of the former ministers Donald Guerrero Ortiz, José Ramón Peralta, Gonzalo Castillo and Co., accused of defrauding the Dominican State with more than RD$19 billion pesos of taxpayers, are disrupting the judicial process.
According to the accusation derived from Operation Squid, The defendants were part of a structure that diverted the indicated millionaire sum through irregular payments for expropriations of land declared of public utility, as well as bribes used to finance the 2020 electoral campaign.
The Fourth Investigative Court of the National District reorganized for the fourth time the calendar established for the presentation of the bars of the defense of the accused of being part of the administrative corruption network.
During the hearing This Friday, the defense of Daniel Alberto Guerrero Mena presented a medical certificate that indicates rest for 72 hours to one of the members of his team.
In that sense, the prosecutor Miguel Crucey explained that Judge Altagracia Ramírez made an observation to these defenders, “because the intention to delay the process is notorious, since, on more than four occasions, the order of their participation has been changed.” In addition, he said that at the request of the same defendant, it has been changed four times.
Crucey noted that today they began presenting their defense arguments, “but they interrupted it, claiming that the man (lawyer) was not feeling well.”
Due to this incident, Judge Ramírez decided that at the hearing next Thursday the 27th it will be the turn of the former Minister of Public Works to present his arguments. The accused Guerrero Mena will be the last.
In addition, The court rejected the request for the return of a motor vehicle, made by the defense of Marcial Reyes, because it was untimely.
“Regarding the petition, the judge pointed out that the petition was a distortion. of the defense bar of the accused Marcial Reyes,” said Crucey.
The Public Ministry accuses Marcial Reyes of associating with the corruption network to defraud Dominican state. He demanded payment for a portion of the land at the Las Américas International Airport (AILA), arguing that he was representing deceased people, falsifying and using false documents.
Prosecutor Miguel Crucey indicated that the defense requested the return of a motor vehiclebut it distorted the nature of a resolution of petitions, because it was made out of time.
