SANTO DOMINGO.– The case of alleged embezzlement from the National Health Insurance (Senasa) continues at the center of public debate, after the Permanent Attention judge of the National District imposed 18 months of preventive detention against Santiago Hazimformer director of the entity, and six others involved in the investigation called Operation Cobra.
The judicial decision has provoked reactions in different sectors, including the former president of the Republic, Danilo Medinawho called to evaluate the case responsibly and judge public leaders for their actions and resultsand not only for his speeches.
Medina stressed that honesty and transparency are not demonstrated with words, but with conduct throughout public and private life. “The Dominican people must learn to know people not by their speech, but by what they do. Those who are honest and upright do not live by proclaiming their value; it is enough to observe their steps to form an idea of who they are,” he expressed.
Hazim defended himself
On your side, Santiago Hazimin statements offered on September 24assured that during his administration he had no accomplices, in response to previous accusations from the president Luis Abinader, who affirmed that there was no complicity from the Government in the case.
“Today I want to remind you that I can have good friends, but never accomplices. In my government I will not allow impunity of any kind,” the president said in a message broadcast through his WhatsApp channel.
Hazim maintained that it was even his own administration that filed a formal complaint with the Public Ministryproviding documents that showed irregularities in the medical authorization system.
“I have had no accomplices either. My decision was to report what I discovered because it was my moral and legal duty. I understood that my obligation was to protect the system and prevent public funds from being diverted from their true purpose: the health of the people,” Hazim said in a statement.
The former official and the other defendants must comply with the coercive measure in the Najayo Correction and Rehabilitation Centerwhile other defendants were imposed house arrest and alternative measuresas the investigations into the alleged embezzlement progress, which would have exceeded the 15,900 million pesos.
The process continues to develop, with the Public Ministry deepening the investigations and Dominican society attentive to a case that has revived the debate on accountability, integrity in public office and the fight against administrative corruption.
