Santo Domingo.-The Public Prosecutor’s Office will present documentary, expert and testimonial evidence against those involved in the Calamar corruption case, which will be considered by the judge of the Fourth Court of Instruction of the National District, Altagracia Ramírez.
Among the evidence to be presented are the testimonies of those who reached an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office based on the criterion of opportunity, which includes the statement of Ramón Emilio Jiménez Collie (Mimilo), who is the first witness in the case.
The case includes 34 people and 12 companies accused of stealing more than 19 billion pesos from the State in irregular payments for expropriations of land declared of public utility and in bribes for the 2020 political campaign.
The prosecution says it has more than two thousand pieces of evidence to support the charges against those involved in the case of acts of corruption against the State.
Approved agreements
Through the agreements reached by the Public Prosecutor’s Office with six people involved in the Calamar corruption case, which Judge Ramírez approved last week based on the criterion of opportunity, the State was able to recover some RD$2,000 million, of which RD$400 million is in cash returned by those involved who reached agreements.
The accusation filed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office indicates that Mimilo Jiménez, who reached the agreement, was the contact between the now ex-officials and others from the private sector. It is indicated that he coordinated the meetings that took place in an office called “La Casita” where a political office also operated.
The agreement establishes that he gave RD$3,812 million to the PLD presidential campaign in 2020, which had Gonzalo Castillo as its presidential candidate, also accused in the “Calamar” corruption case.
Mimilo Jiménez, as the main witness and collaborator of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation of the case, will explain the strategies adopted for expropriations, land purchases and gambling, through which almost 20 billion pesos were supposedly expropriated from the State.
It is also indicated that José Arturo Ureña will hand over RD$500 million in cash and goods. He claims to have received hundreds of millions of pesos through the implicated Fernando Crisóstomo.
Process
—1— Accusation
The Public Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against the Calamar defendants this year.
—2— Coercion
In April, a judge issued a coercive measure against those accused of the corruption scheme.
—3— Capture
In March 2023, a group of former officials were arrested for committing irregularities.
Preliminary hearing, a legal battle
Justice. The judge of the Fourth Court of Instruction of the National District, Altagracia Ramírez, will begin today the preliminary hearing of 34 people and 12 companies, accused in the corruption scheme of the Calamar case.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is asking that the defendants be brought to trial and that coercive measures be maintained against the group, accused of committing criminal association, bribery, corruption, money laundering and other crimes. It is also requesting the confiscation of assets seized from the network.
