The jurist, Santiago Rodríguez, lawyer for the former administrative minister of the Presidency, Jose Ramon Peraltaassured that his client did not commit any irregularity during the exercise of his public duties and that he is innocent of the accusations presented by the Public Ministry against him, within the framework of the so-called Calamar case.
Former official José Ramón Peralta appears as a defendant along with other former officials in the network of administrative corruption investigated by the Public Ministry, known as the Calamar case.
These allegations were presented before the judge of the Fourth Court of Instruction of the National District, Altagracia Ramírez. During the hearing, the defendant’s defense maintained that during Peralta’s administration there were no complaints, audits or official findings that evidence irregularities attributable to his actions as administrative minister of the Presidency.
The defense bar stated before the court that Peralta’s exercise of public office was not accompanied by personal economic benefits, highlighting that no improper payment, bribes or receipt of gifts linked to administrative decisions have been proven.
Likewise, they emphasized that the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency does not appear as an institution accused or investigated in the file, nor have reports been presented by control bodies that indicate irregular processes during that period.
The defendant’s lawyers stated that there is no illegal conduct in the exercise of Peralta’s public functions and that the accusation lacks sufficient institutional and evidentiary support to sustain criminal charges against him.
They indicated that they presented compelling elements that demonstrate the lack of evidentiary rigor, highlighting that, after the expert examination of the electronic devices seized from Peralta, not a single digital evidence, message or record was provided that links it to the Public Ministry’s accusations.
The legal team indicated that it focused on dismantling an accusation that they describe as manipulated and lacking precise facts, stating that it is based exclusively on testimonies from interested informants without independent corroboration.
According to the defense, the process ignores that there are no records of illegal actions in the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency under the management of Peralta, and that even the amounts presented by the prosecution present inconsistencies that, in their opinion, completely dismantle the accusation.
“In the case against Peralta, the accusation does not identify any administrative act admitted, issued or carried out by Mr. José Ramón Peralta on the occasion, condition or quality of administrative minister of the Presidency,” the lawyers said.
The defense bar is made up of lawyers Santiago Rodríguez, Pedro Balbuena and Emely Rodríguez.
The judge of the Fourth Investigative Court of the National District, Altagracia Ramírez, continues to hear the case.
The Calamar case file also includes former ministers Donald Guerrero; Daniel Omar Caamaño, former Comptroller General of the Republic; Luis Miguel Piccirillo, former director of the State Sugar Council (CEA); Claudio Silver Peña, former director of the National Cadastre; Óscar Chalas Guerrero and Julián Omar Fernández, former directors of Casinos and Games of Chance, all accused of administrative corruption.
According to the prosecuting body, those involved in the Calamar case would have diverted more than RD$19,000 million through irregular payments for expropriations of land declared of public utility, in addition to receiving alleged bribes intended to finance the 2020 electoral campaign.
