The Public ministry (MP) concluded this Monday the reading of the 3,445 pages of the file of the anti octopus case and the presentation of the evidence against the group accused of defrauding the State with more than 5,000 million pesos, whose indicated head is Alexis Medina Sanchez.
Next Friday, the MP will present his closing speech and his requests, which are expected to be based on the agreements with some defendants, and that the majority will be sent to trial on the merits.
The Judge of the Seventh Investigating Court of the National District, Deiby Timoteo Peguero, divided the defense arguments, which will refute the evidence provided by the accusing body, for Monday the 21st of this month and Friday the 25th.
The accused companies will be able to make their defenses on Monday the 28th, to conclude this preliminary stage or trial of the evidence in the case.
The number of defendants in Operation Antipulpo amounts to more than 40 people, between individuals and legal entities.
At the conclusion of today’s hearing, the head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Corruption Administration (Pepca), Wilson Camacho, assured that they have presented the evidence “more than enough” so that Alexis Medina Sánchez and others involved in the alleged network are sent to trial on the merits and sentenced by the court.
Camacho stated that “it has been proven that in the Dominican Republic, when it comes to corruption cases, you have to over-test” and that is why they have submitted more than 3,000 tests.
A Alexis Medina Sánchez is accused of being the owner of several companies, which were benefited in irregular bidding processes in almost all public institutions.
The accused
As part of the so-called Anti-Octopus Operation, the Pepca He submitted to Justice the brothers Juan Alexis and Carmen Magalys Medina Sánchez, brothers of former President Danilo Medina, as well as Francisco Pagán Rodríguez, former director of the Oisoe; Lorenzo Wilfredo Hidalgo Núñez (Freddy), former Secretary of Public Health; the former comptroller Rafael Antonio Germosén Andújar, the former president of Fonper, Fernando A. Rosa Rosa; Aquiles Alejandro Christopher Sánchez, Domingo Antonio Santiago Muñoz, Julián Esteban Suriel Suazo and José Dolores Santana Carmona.
Also Rafael Leónidas D’Oleo, Lib Valenzuela Matos, Paola Mercedes Molina Suazo, Carlos Martín Montes de Oca and others.
Of all the defendants, only Carlos Martín Montes de Oca is in jail because he was declared in absentia on several occasions. Most have house arrest.
