Saint Dominic.-President Luis Abinader ordered that the National Health Insurance (Senasa) become a civil actor in the case of corruption detected in that institution, so that “every last peso stolen from public assets” is recovered.
The decision comes hours after the Public Ministry arrested the former director of the organization, Santiago Hazim, and seven of his collaborators.
The president explained that the process began after receiving information that raised suspicions of irregularities and therefore he ordered an internal investigation.
This report confirmed the existence of “serious acts of corruption” in Senasa, which is why it was immediately sent to the Public Ministry.
“From the beginning of my administration I assumed an unwavering commitment to transparency, the fight against corruption, no impunity and the protection of public assets,” said Abinader.
The Public Ministry called the case “Operation Cobra”, with which the judicialization process begins that seeks criminal sanctions and the confiscation of the money stolen in the acts of corruption detected.
Arrested
Those arrested were Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, former director of Senasa; Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, Germán Rafael Robles Quiñones, Francisco Iván Minaya Pérez, Eduardo Read Estrella, Cinty Acosta Sención, Ramón Alan Speakler Mateo and Ada Ledesma Ubiera.
The Public Ministry revealed that other natural and legal persons continue to be investigated with the purpose of prosecuting them as the investigations of the accusing body progress.
After receiving the file, the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) requested court orders that concluded in the arrests and the seizure of documentary evidence, as well as the identification of financial movements that allegedly involve fraudulent use of funds managed by the institution.
No impunity
“This and any other act of corruption will be brought to justice so that the corrupt are punished with the full weight of the law,” he stated.
With the complaint as a civil actor, the State seeks not only criminal sanctions, but also to recover public resources allegedly diverted through administrative maneuvers and irregular contracts.
Break-in
A total of 25 prosecutors, assisted by more than 200 National Police agents, carried out 12 raids as part of the operation that led to the arrest of the accused.
Among other crimes, the group is charged with coalition of officials, prevarication, association of criminals, collection of bribes, fraud against the Dominican State, embezzlement, forgery, use of false documents and money laundering.
Against health
The Attorney General of the Republic, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, announced that the Public Ministry makes great efforts so that those who have attacked the health of the population, especially affecting the most needy, pay for their actions and return to the Dominican State every peso stolen from public assets.
“The Public Ministry reiterates its unwavering commitment to fighting corruption. Those who have attacked the health of the population, especially affecting those most in need, will have to answer for their criminal acts,” said Reynoso.
“Operation Cobra will see this case through to the end. We are making great efforts so that, in addition to criminal sanctions, those responsible for defrauding all citizens also return to the Dominican State every peso stolen from public assets,” added the head of the Public Ministry.
Large scale bribery
The Public Ministry has been able to collect evidence of large-scale bribery, adulteration of financial statements, special programs without legal basis, used to divert funds and fraudulent maneuvers.
The Conep
In a public statement, the National Council of Private Enterprise condemns any illegal action that affects public resources and citizen trust, demanding that all complaints be rigorously investigated, all under the rigor of due process. “No action of justice should be distorted by political persecution or media trials,” he points out.
Detained
—1— New City
Those involved in the Senasa case remain detained in the Ciudad Nueva Courthouse prison.
—2— Transfer
Some were transferred in the early morning hours by a police team, after the arrest warrant against those investigated was executed around 10:00 pm on Saturday.
Dantes asks to respect the rights and guarantees
Process. The member of the Political Committee of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and Secretary of Legal Affairs of that organization, José Dantés, called for full respect for the rights and procedural guarantees of the former director of the National Health Insurance (Senasa), Santiago Hazim, and the others involved in the investigation for alleged embezzlement and acts of corruption in that entity.
The statement comes hours after Hazim was arrested after 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, after having been interrogated by the Public Ministry in relation to the alleged irregularities committed during his management at Senasa.
