Dominican Justice

RENOVE decision questioned​

The decision by the Court of Appeal to free the accused in the RENOVE corruption case has generated widespread reaction in most of today's press. El Caribe says that the release of the ten members of the former government has unleashed a series of criticisms, especially after the group had been found guilty of swindling US$60 million during the RENOVE program. The RENOVE plan was an attempt by the Mejia administration to renew the vehicles used in public transportation, many of which had fallen into total disrepair. On Monday, the Appeals Division of the Court of the National District, alleging that there was insufficient proof, discharged all of the accused. Immediately, Octavio Lister, the head of the government's Department for the Prevention of Corruption (DEPRECO), said he would seek an annulment decree against the sentence that freed the accused. The Attorney General told reporters that "it is a sorry state that some political sectors continue influencing the decisions that the courts take, and even worse, that some judges allow themselves to take decisions based on these influences." He expressed his hope that the Supreme Court would reverse the decision. President Fernandez refused to express an opinion when questioned by journalists. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Jorge Subero Isa told reporters, without referring directly to the decision of the Appeals Court, that "unfortunately, some situations develop in our courts that produce some sentences, which cause panic and shame."
In his A.M. column in Diario Libre, lawyer, historian and writer Adriano Miguel Tejada says that the decision by the court that understandably, has aroused the indignation of large sectors of the population. These sectors had already condemned the politicians and union leaders in the court of public opinion. Tejada says that the court of public opinion only has one degree of jurisdiction and its decisions are definitive. Even more, this court sees the accused's attempts at a defense with great suspicion, because their decision is not subject to appeal. The suspicion remains, that the judges acted so easily due to bribery or political sympathies. Diario Libre's editor says that all this is possible within a judicial system that the political parties share out like Jesus' cloak after the crucifixion. Tejada says that nobody admits that there are ignorant or stupid judges, but the lawyers know better. There is also a public suspicion that there are special courts, similar to the infamous Star Chamber courts of James I, because it is impossible that one specific court should emit so many questionable decisions, and that the Supreme Court, that is responsible for policing the Judicial Power, does not take action.What is terrifying, even more than a government of judges, "is the conviction that politics has become totally autonomous, and has a legislature that approves its goodies, its judges to guarantee the impunity and the money sufficient to live like kings without depending on anybody, and buy whoever is needed."

Click to expand...

canadian bob said:

Yesterday's DR1 news about a judge who was videotaped taking a bribe to make a forgery charge "go away" makes me sick. While these criminally bad judges may be in the minority, one bad judge is still too many. Canadian Bob.

Click to expand...