The Public Ministry presented yesterday its conclusions in the alleged case of corruption dismantled in the Operation 13in which he requested 12 years in prison from the Second Collegiate Court of the National District for the former administrator of the National lottery, Luis Maisichell Dicentas well as 10 and eight years for three other defendants in the alleged fraud for more than 500 million pesos carried out during the draw on May 1, 2021.
The other three defendants for whom he requested 10 and eight years in prison are William Rosario Ortiz, Eladio Batista and Edison Manuel Perdomo Peralta. For the first two, together with Maisichell Dicenta fine of 400 minimum wages was also demanded and to Perdomo Peralta 200 minimum wages.
The Specialized Prosecutor for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (PEPCA)headed by the Litigation Coordinator of that entity, Mirna Ortiz, also requested five years in suspended prison, under conditions, for the defendants Valentina Rosario Cruz, Jonathan Brea, Carlos Berigüete, Felipe Santiago Toribio, Miguel Mejía and Rafael Mesa, who made agreements with the Public Ministry.
Ortiz said they requested the suspension of sentence under a special modality of rules for the collaboration, confession and acceptance of the facts of the aforementioned six defendants who reached an agreement with the prosecuting body.
Pepca also asked the court to order the confiscation of the assets seized in the process.
For Felipe Santiago Toribio, Valentina Rosario Cruz, Jonathan Brea and Carlos Berigüete, the sentence of five years in prison will be served “as follows: one year and eight months in prison will be calculated as a sentence already served, in accordance with the house arrest that weighs on them, and the remaining three years and four months will be suspended.”
Regarding the defendants Miguel Mejia and Rafael Mesathat they be imposed five years in prison fully suspended.
This total suspension will be conditional on those defendants complying with the alternative coercive measures of freedom that were dictated to them, which was only for periodic presentation and impediment to exit.
The fugitive is also linked to fraud Leonidas Medina Arvelo (Nazareth), who was declared in absentia at the request of the Public Ministry and is persecuted by the authorities.
In the fraudulent draw, jackpot number 13 was shown as the winner, for which the case is called Operation 13.
Accusations against main defendants
When recounting the link between the four main defendants in the alleged fraud, the Pepca Litigation coordinator stated that Maisichell Dicent was “indispensable” in the plot; William Rosario Ortiz directed it; Eladio Batista, likewise, he was “in the head” on the net, while Edison Manuel Perdomo Peralta It was a “essential piece” that he ordered and used the camera so that the alleged deception in the draw was not clearly reflected.
Maisichell Dicent was the person who removed the obstacles, who holds a meeting with Valentina Rosario, to whom she tells that they are going to contact her, she added.
Eladio Batista, driver, had a direct participation, action. He is credited with collecting the money from the play and making the bribe payments for which his participation “She was quite active.”
A ruling could be issued on Friday
The substantive trial hearing was postponed until this Tuesday, February 21, where the parties will continue to present their conclusions.
The Public Ministry and the defense say that it is possible that next Friday judges Claribel Nivar (president), Yissel Soto and Katherine Rubio, decide whether or not to sentence the defendants.
