New government office opened to deal with China
Ad-hoc courts set up in prisons
Maternal and infant mortality is still a concern
Court orders three months preventive custody to former Corde director
Chamber of Deputies will not investigate payments to Joao Santana
Journalist Edith Febles says selection process for new prosecutors is rigged
Participación Ciudadana expresses concern over contest for prosecutors
Ana Figueiredo: New president for Altice
Police and Army sent to Navarrete
Emely Peguero trial at end of August
Businessman’s daughter seriously injured
Medickson del Orbe wins gold in judo
New government office opened to deal with China
The Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramón Peralta, has confirmed that he notified on 25 June 2018, all of the ministries and government agencies that an office is now open to speed up the process doing business with China. If any government agency is currently or planning to conduct direct foreign investment and cooperation with China, that they should contact the Ministry of the Presidency’s new Oficina de Asuntos con la República Popular China, or the Office for Popular Republic of China Affairs Office. The office will not act on diplomatic matters.
As reported in Diario Libre, the new office will serve to coordinate and follow up on the economic and trade initiatives that will serve as base for the signing of future bilateral agreements. The office coordinator is Juan Ariel Jiménez, who is the development policies deputy minister at the Presidency.
The letter distributed by the Presidency highlights that the new office will deal with all matters related to China, including managing contacts with the Chinese government agencies as well as potential Chinese investors, businesses or academic and research institutions.
Peralta is a long time authority on the Chinese market, having decades ago begun importing garlic from China for his family agribusiness Constanza Agroindustrial. He also is leading the Presidency effort to increase Dominican exports.
One of the first events to be coordinated is a Export and Import Fair to be held in November 2018.
The Dominican Republic and the PRC signed for diplomatic relations on 1 May 2018 in China.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...special-para-los-asuntos-con-china-LD10463910
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...a-seguimiento-a-acuerdos-con-china-DD10465402
Ad-hoc courts set up in prisons
The Board of the Judicial Branch has begun to set up ad-hoc notification centers in three prisons in the country in order to speed up the legal process due to logistical and security problems of having to transport prisoners to court appearances. The first three jails with notification centers are La Victoria, Najayo Men’s jail and Rafey.
In a press release, the Judicial Branch said that given the limitations of resources and logistics for taking the inmates to the courts, the lack of vehicles and personnel, they had to set up the courts in situ to be able to offer an effective legal process. The ad-hoc courts are not only for those in preventive custody but also those who have already been sentenced.
The La Victoria center will attend to inmates from Haras Nacionales, Nueva Colina, San Luis, Manoguayabo and the New Model Jail; the one in Najayo Men’s jail will attend to inmates from Najayo Mujeres as well and that in Rafey Men’s jail will also hear cases from Rafey Women’s jail, Valverde, Fortaleza de Santiago and San Miguel.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...on-en-tres-recintos-penitenciarios-KD10462558
Maternal and infant mortality is still a concern
Relatively high maternal and infant mortality continues to be a disturbing statistic for the Dominican Republic, as the epidemiological bulletin number 27 from the Ministry of Public Health shows that so far this year, 94 women have died during pregnancy and labor. The figure at the same time last year was 96.
Looking at infant mortality, so far 1,713 infants have died, 80% before they were 28 days old, and last year the figure was 1,337.
The government insists that lowering both of these indicators is high priority, but government programs have not appeared to have had much influence in decreasing the number of deaths. Just this week there were six maternal deaths of women. The average age of the women who died during pregnancy, labor and postpartum was 29.
The highest rate of neonatal death is in the Enriquillo region where the rate increased by 175% compared with the same period last year.
The epidemiological report also reveals that so far this year there have been 575 cases of dengue, the highest rate in Hermanas Mirabal and Valverde provinces.
Malaria has had 180 confirmed cases, with half being in Santo Domingo East.
http://hoy.com.do/muertes-maternas-e-infantiles-no-cesan-van-94-defunciones/
Court orders three months preventive custody to former Corde director
Judge Jose Alejandro Vargas ordered pretrial custody for three months to Leoncio Almánzar Ojío, former director of the Dominican Corporation of State Enterprises (Corde) and six others in the irregular sale of government property in Los Tres Brazos, in eastern Santo Domingo. Another four of the 11 accused in the case were allowed to post bail. Almánzar said he would appeal the order.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07...tros-seis-implicados-en-caso-los-tres-brazos/
Chamber of Deputies will not investigate payments to Joao Santana
The plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies has rejected for the sixth time, the request from the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) to include on the legislative agenda a resolution to investigate the payments made by the government to the Brazilian publicist Joao Santana, who was involved in the campaign of President Danilo Median for the 2012 elections.
The request was originally made by PRM deputies Faride Raful, Francisco Javier Paulino, Agustín Burgos and Robinson Díaz on 12 July 2018.
PRM deputies have taken the case to the Attorney General Office requesting that a hearing on the government payments for RD$1.4 billion paid to companies related to Joao Santana and Monica Moura (Cine y Art 2013 and Polis Caribe 2013) be heard in the judiciary.
Managing editor of Diario Libre, Ines Aizpun writes today in the newspaper’s editorial that with the rejection the deputies are publicly and formally removing themselves from their most important role: to be a government branch that is independent of the Executive Branch, a check in favor of democracy.
Of the 98 deputies, 58 PLD deputies voted against the matter being reviewed in Congress, and another 17 PLD deputies, identified as followers of former President Leonel Fernández, abstained from voting in favor or against.
http://eldia.com.do/pld-impone-su-m...rar-comision-investigue-pagos-a-joao-santana/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07...del-prm-sobre-investigacion-caso-joa-santana/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/la-transparencia-AD10466413
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-se-abstienen-en-caso-joao-santana-ND10467794
Journalist Edith Febles says selection process for new prosecutors is rigged
Edith Febles, Ricardo Nieves and Altagracia Salazar on their Enfoque Matinal morning TV show on CDN on Channel 37 on Monday, 30 July 2018, presented evidence of major irregularities in the procedures convened by the Superior Council of the Public Ministry to replace key prosecutors. The selection process was announced by the Attorney General Office.
TV host Ricardo Nieves concluded that the fast-tracked tender called by the Attorney General Office is just a “pantomime to legalize decisions that had already been taken.” Altagracia Salazar highlighted she had never seen such a level of control being imposed to the justice department as what Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez has exercised.
Febles dedicated a good segment of the 30 July 2018 morning program on CDN Channel 37 to explain the measures taken to ensure the control of prosecution by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez through what she described as the directed actions to choose the prosecutors for key positions in the judiciary. She told of how days before it was announced that a prosecutors selection process would be called, Attorney General named several persons to Attorney General Office positions to enable them to participate in the prosecutors selection procedure.
The Attorney General Office is criticized for having fast-tracked the selection process to choose prosecutors for the key positions in response to a request made on Friday, 20 July 2018, by deputy Miriam Cabral, who is described by the journalists as having been secretary to Danilo Medina for more than 25 years. In Congress, Cabral summoned Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez to replace those whose terms had ended or would soon end in order not to be in violation of the law. The law establishes that prosecutors can serve two terms. Some 33 prosecutors and adjunct prosecutors were unexpectedly ordered to submit to the evaluation process. Prosecutors whose terms were not to expire for another year, nevertheless, were ordered to apply for the positions that they already held and participate in the selection process.
Journalist Salazar sums up the reason for the expedited procedure: “The government and chief of the public ministry (the Attorney General) had decided to change the prosecutors because there are difficult times ahead and they wanted to ensure they have control of the prosecution offices that will have to deal with the difficult issues.”
Febles said that all of the sudden, on Monday, 23 July, the terms of the evaluation and selection process were published on the Attorney General (PGR) website ordering the PGR prosecutors and Administrative Corruption (Pepca) prosecutors to submit their application materials if they sought to continue in their posts or be assigned to others. Febles says the convening of the contest was in violation of the law that establishes that prosecutors’ performance need only to be reviewed to serve a second four year term, and no where is there a mention of these having to sit for testing.
Febles said the contest was called on 23 July. On that same day seven promotions were ordered, so that those people could be in certain positions in order to participate in the contest.
The bases for the contest were published two days later, on 25 July. The applications needed to be submitted by Friday, 27 July. This meant that prosecutors who were abroad, even on the job, as was the case of the Santiago prosecutor, would be excluded. The first test was given on Saturday, 28 July. An extension to 3 August was given for people to apply.
A WhatsApp thread circulated on social media commenting that those who had taken a course that was required to participate in the selection process would award 5 points to the applicant. When the message went viral, the PGR office published an amendment. The WhatsApp was intended only for the prosecutors and only the members of the Public Ministry Council and a chosen few had participated in the course that would give five points towards the selection.
Febles said that her sources within the Public Ministry indicate that the key positions, including those for Santo Domingo, Santiago and asset laundering have already been chosen and they are persons that are close to Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez.
She speculated that now that she is taking the situation into the open, there were likely to be changes. But her sources said the government has chosen Rosalba Ramos to be the next National District prosecutor. On Ramos’ biography is that she was legal coordinator working with Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez.
Febles reported that her sources indicate that for Santiago, the prosecutor choice is Aura Luz Garcia, who was sworn in as interim prosecutor on 4 April 2018 by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez.
For the asset laundering prosecutor position, she said Dulce Luciano is chosen. She was one of the people Attorney General Rodriguez had brought to work with him during his stint at the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD).
Febles also says that two members of the Superior Council of the Public Ministry, the same members who participated in creating the bases and the questions on which the prosecutors were tested for the prosecutor positions. These are Edward Manuel Lopez Ulloa and Jose Manuel Aguilo Taveras. Febles mentioned that during the test, several prosecutors hinted they had benefited from a cheat sheet.
Febles also focused on who the selection jurors are. To choose the country’s prosecutors, the Attorney General Office included Fernando Quezada, who was on the same day the contest was published, appointed to the position so he could be a juror. He is infamously known as the prosecutor who filed away the case against “Father Johnny” in Constanza, after the later was accused of pedophilia and sexual abuse. Months later, in October 2017 Pope Francisco would lead a papal effort to defrock the priest after finding him guilty of the same sexual abuse charges for which Quezada said there was no evidence.
Another juror for the prosecutor selection procedure is Juan Amado Cedano Santana who was appointed to his position in the PGR on the same day the contest was convened, Monday, 23 July 2018.
The third juror had been named careers director of the Public Ministry in an expedited contest called on 4 July 2018 in the media. With the deadline set for 9 July, Victor Lora was named careers director of the Public Ministry on 11 July 2018. Lora, served as coordinator for special matters at the Attorney General Office. Febles said his background did not qualify him for the careers director at the PGR position. Online photos show Lora distributing school supplies and meeting with community people. Febles said he served as administrative advisor to Jean Alain Rodriguez when they both worked at CEI-RD, after Rodríguez was appointed head during the first government of Medina in 2012.
Febles commented that the government has the power to break the law to impose greater control on the Public Ministry, “but don’t tell us you are complying with the law.”
Fellow TV talk show host, Ricardo Nieves expressed his embarrassment at the manipulation and seemingly corrupt process that was apparently taking place within the Public Ministry. He said he would wait to hear the position of the executive director of the Foundation for Institutionality and Justice (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, now that the latter was named oversight in the process. Nieves questioned whether Castaños would speak up or would legitimize the procedure.
“This is about the future of the penal prosecution and the present of administration of justice,” he said.
Co-host Altagracia Salazar continued: This is impunity.” She summed up: “The prosecutor has assumed the political decision to guarantee impunity before the cases arrive to the judiciary.”
But she said: “There is no longer absolute control of information, there will always be someone who will leak what is happening.”
The talk show hosts directed the general public to see Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez personal web page where he defines himself first as a “politician” in his profile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_Ma0_6X8Y
http://www.jeanrodriguez.do/perfil/
Participación Ciudadana expresses concern over contest for prosecutors
Citizen Participation has expressed its profound concern with the procedure that has been launched by the Attorney General’s Office to select new prosecutors.
The system has been denounced by several sectors as a way of dismissing several prosecutors who have done a good job, and to substitute them with others, and is also said to violate the law. Article 41 of Law 133-11 establishes that the position of head prosecutor is for four years, and they can be confirmed for one more consecutive period. However, before this second period is over there is now a competition to replace them before the end of the first or second term.
In a press release they say that the competition violates the law as it omits the evaluations stipulated by the law and imposes this procedure on those who are already in post.
It calls on Jean Alain Rodríguez, Attorney General to correct the violations and lack of transparency and equality in this process.
http://hoy.com.do/participacion-ciu...olaciones-a-la-ley-en-concurso-para-fiscales/
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...ion-violaciones-la-ley-concurso-fiscales.html
Ana Figueiredo: New president for Altice
Altice Dominicana has announced that the new president for their Dominican operations will be Ana Figueiredo. Figueiredo, who is Portuguese, has more than 15 years experience in telecoms having had positions in Brazil, Africa, United States and Europe.
Armando Pereira, chief operating officer for Altice Europe, says her leadership would bring great success to the country and they would continue to support the DR and provide the best telecoms and entertainment service to all Dominicans.
Dominican executive Rafael Pichardo was appointed as deputy chief executive officer.
http://almomento.net/designan-a-ana-figueiredo-como-presidenta-de-altice-dominicana/
https://acento.com.do/2018/economia...eva-presidenta-operaciones-altice-dominicana/
Police and Army sent to Navarrete
Combined troops of the National Police and the Army were sent to Navarrete yesterday, Tuesday 31 July, where a strike began, called by the Popular Front (Falpo) for an undetermined length of time. The strikers were calling for better electrical and water services, the repair of schools and resurfacing of the roads.
There were homemade bombs were set off and shots fired provoking panic in the town and causing the dispatch of Swat members and other specialized parts of the National Police.
According to Falpo official, Pablo Ferreira, Navarrete had had at least 15 years with problems with the water supply hence he said that the strike would continue until the government agreed to build an aqueduct to guarantee drinking water to the area.
Businesses in Navarrete remained closed and transportation from Santiago to the northwest and the border region was seriously affected as was transit from Santiago to Puerto Plata.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...n-contingente-a-navarrete-por-paro-de-labores
Emely Peguero trial at end of August
Judges in Duarte province have said that the trial of Marlon and Marlín Martínez will begin on 29 August 2018. Marlon is accused of the murder of pregnant Emely Peguero. Marlin Martinez, the mother of Marlon is accused as an accessory to the crime, including being involved in the disposal of the body.
The presiding judge of the case is María de los Ángeles Concepción. She shares the court duties with Judges Arelis Camacho and Ana María Gómez. De los Angeles Concepcion announced the date of the start of the trail to the lawyers of the accused, the lawyers of the family of the victim and the Public Prosecution Service.
The coercive measures will also be reviewed prior to the beginning of the trial.
Emely Peguero’s body was found dead inside a suitcase in the community of Cayetano Germosén, Espaillat province on 31 August, 2017. The autopsy revealed she died as a consequence of a botched abortion and a blow to the head.
The Martinez’s say they will appeal the start date of the case.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...rlin-y-marlon-martinez-por-asesinato-de-emely
Businessman’s daughter seriously injured
The National Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the serious injury caused to the daughter of businessman Freddy Espinal, owner of the bus company, Transporte Espinal that runs the route daily from Santiago to the Capital.
María Altagracia Espinal Vargas, aged 31, was beaten in several parts of her body, in her home in the Jardines Metropolitanos sector of Santiago and is in a serious condition.
Last Thursday, 26 July 2108, she left her father’s business to return home to receive a furniture delivery. When she did not answer her phone, her family went to her apartment where they discovered her to be unconscious. She was taken to hospital in Santiago but with no improvement in her condition her family decided to transfer her to a hospital in the United States where she is said to be in stable condition.
Family members have no idea who could have attacked Espinal or why. It appears the attackers used the emergency staircase to enter her apartment.
On Tuesday, 31 July 2018, Listin Diario reported the Police arrested a physician as a person of interest in the case. The unnamed physician was arrested in his residence in Padre las Casas neighborhood in Santiago.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...al-fue-llevada-a-eeuu-para-recibir-atenciones
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...te-espinal-herida-por-desconocidos-OD10462268
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...la-hija-del-propietario-de-transporte-espinal
http://hoy.com.do/los-detalles-sobr...nal-tras-haber-sido-atacada-por-desconocidos/
Medickson del Orbe wins gold in judo
Medickson del Orbe won the Dominican Republic’s 80th medal, a gold, in the judo competition of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. The DR now has won 22 gold, 19 silver and 44 bronze medals for the fifth plae. The DR is behind Mexico, Cuba, Colombia and Venezuela in the event standing. Del Orbe defeated Puerto Rican Adrian Gandia. Del Orbe trains in Spain.
Ad-hoc courts set up in prisons
Maternal and infant mortality is still a concern
Court orders three months preventive custody to former Corde director
Chamber of Deputies will not investigate payments to Joao Santana
Journalist Edith Febles says selection process for new prosecutors is rigged
Participación Ciudadana expresses concern over contest for prosecutors
Ana Figueiredo: New president for Altice
Police and Army sent to Navarrete
Emely Peguero trial at end of August
Businessman’s daughter seriously injured
Medickson del Orbe wins gold in judo
New government office opened to deal with China
The Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramón Peralta, has confirmed that he notified on 25 June 2018, all of the ministries and government agencies that an office is now open to speed up the process doing business with China. If any government agency is currently or planning to conduct direct foreign investment and cooperation with China, that they should contact the Ministry of the Presidency’s new Oficina de Asuntos con la República Popular China, or the Office for Popular Republic of China Affairs Office. The office will not act on diplomatic matters.
As reported in Diario Libre, the new office will serve to coordinate and follow up on the economic and trade initiatives that will serve as base for the signing of future bilateral agreements. The office coordinator is Juan Ariel Jiménez, who is the development policies deputy minister at the Presidency.
The letter distributed by the Presidency highlights that the new office will deal with all matters related to China, including managing contacts with the Chinese government agencies as well as potential Chinese investors, businesses or academic and research institutions.
Peralta is a long time authority on the Chinese market, having decades ago begun importing garlic from China for his family agribusiness Constanza Agroindustrial. He also is leading the Presidency effort to increase Dominican exports.
One of the first events to be coordinated is a Export and Import Fair to be held in November 2018.
The Dominican Republic and the PRC signed for diplomatic relations on 1 May 2018 in China.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...special-para-los-asuntos-con-china-LD10463910
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...a-seguimiento-a-acuerdos-con-china-DD10465402
Ad-hoc courts set up in prisons
The Board of the Judicial Branch has begun to set up ad-hoc notification centers in three prisons in the country in order to speed up the legal process due to logistical and security problems of having to transport prisoners to court appearances. The first three jails with notification centers are La Victoria, Najayo Men’s jail and Rafey.
In a press release, the Judicial Branch said that given the limitations of resources and logistics for taking the inmates to the courts, the lack of vehicles and personnel, they had to set up the courts in situ to be able to offer an effective legal process. The ad-hoc courts are not only for those in preventive custody but also those who have already been sentenced.
The La Victoria center will attend to inmates from Haras Nacionales, Nueva Colina, San Luis, Manoguayabo and the New Model Jail; the one in Najayo Men’s jail will attend to inmates from Najayo Mujeres as well and that in Rafey Men’s jail will also hear cases from Rafey Women’s jail, Valverde, Fortaleza de Santiago and San Miguel.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...on-en-tres-recintos-penitenciarios-KD10462558
Maternal and infant mortality is still a concern
Relatively high maternal and infant mortality continues to be a disturbing statistic for the Dominican Republic, as the epidemiological bulletin number 27 from the Ministry of Public Health shows that so far this year, 94 women have died during pregnancy and labor. The figure at the same time last year was 96.
Looking at infant mortality, so far 1,713 infants have died, 80% before they were 28 days old, and last year the figure was 1,337.
The government insists that lowering both of these indicators is high priority, but government programs have not appeared to have had much influence in decreasing the number of deaths. Just this week there were six maternal deaths of women. The average age of the women who died during pregnancy, labor and postpartum was 29.
The highest rate of neonatal death is in the Enriquillo region where the rate increased by 175% compared with the same period last year.
The epidemiological report also reveals that so far this year there have been 575 cases of dengue, the highest rate in Hermanas Mirabal and Valverde provinces.
Malaria has had 180 confirmed cases, with half being in Santo Domingo East.
http://hoy.com.do/muertes-maternas-e-infantiles-no-cesan-van-94-defunciones/
Court orders three months preventive custody to former Corde director
Judge Jose Alejandro Vargas ordered pretrial custody for three months to Leoncio Almánzar Ojío, former director of the Dominican Corporation of State Enterprises (Corde) and six others in the irregular sale of government property in Los Tres Brazos, in eastern Santo Domingo. Another four of the 11 accused in the case were allowed to post bail. Almánzar said he would appeal the order.
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07...tros-seis-implicados-en-caso-los-tres-brazos/
Chamber of Deputies will not investigate payments to Joao Santana
The plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies has rejected for the sixth time, the request from the Revolutionary Modern Party (PRM) to include on the legislative agenda a resolution to investigate the payments made by the government to the Brazilian publicist Joao Santana, who was involved in the campaign of President Danilo Median for the 2012 elections.
The request was originally made by PRM deputies Faride Raful, Francisco Javier Paulino, Agustín Burgos and Robinson Díaz on 12 July 2018.
PRM deputies have taken the case to the Attorney General Office requesting that a hearing on the government payments for RD$1.4 billion paid to companies related to Joao Santana and Monica Moura (Cine y Art 2013 and Polis Caribe 2013) be heard in the judiciary.
Managing editor of Diario Libre, Ines Aizpun writes today in the newspaper’s editorial that with the rejection the deputies are publicly and formally removing themselves from their most important role: to be a government branch that is independent of the Executive Branch, a check in favor of democracy.
Of the 98 deputies, 58 PLD deputies voted against the matter being reviewed in Congress, and another 17 PLD deputies, identified as followers of former President Leonel Fernández, abstained from voting in favor or against.
http://eldia.com.do/pld-impone-su-m...rar-comision-investigue-pagos-a-joao-santana/
https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2018/07...del-prm-sobre-investigacion-caso-joa-santana/
https://www.diariolibre.com/opinion/am/la-transparencia-AD10466413
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...-se-abstienen-en-caso-joao-santana-ND10467794
Journalist Edith Febles says selection process for new prosecutors is rigged
Edith Febles, Ricardo Nieves and Altagracia Salazar on their Enfoque Matinal morning TV show on CDN on Channel 37 on Monday, 30 July 2018, presented evidence of major irregularities in the procedures convened by the Superior Council of the Public Ministry to replace key prosecutors. The selection process was announced by the Attorney General Office.
TV host Ricardo Nieves concluded that the fast-tracked tender called by the Attorney General Office is just a “pantomime to legalize decisions that had already been taken.” Altagracia Salazar highlighted she had never seen such a level of control being imposed to the justice department as what Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez has exercised.
Febles dedicated a good segment of the 30 July 2018 morning program on CDN Channel 37 to explain the measures taken to ensure the control of prosecution by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez through what she described as the directed actions to choose the prosecutors for key positions in the judiciary. She told of how days before it was announced that a prosecutors selection process would be called, Attorney General named several persons to Attorney General Office positions to enable them to participate in the prosecutors selection procedure.
The Attorney General Office is criticized for having fast-tracked the selection process to choose prosecutors for the key positions in response to a request made on Friday, 20 July 2018, by deputy Miriam Cabral, who is described by the journalists as having been secretary to Danilo Medina for more than 25 years. In Congress, Cabral summoned Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez to replace those whose terms had ended or would soon end in order not to be in violation of the law. The law establishes that prosecutors can serve two terms. Some 33 prosecutors and adjunct prosecutors were unexpectedly ordered to submit to the evaluation process. Prosecutors whose terms were not to expire for another year, nevertheless, were ordered to apply for the positions that they already held and participate in the selection process.
Journalist Salazar sums up the reason for the expedited procedure: “The government and chief of the public ministry (the Attorney General) had decided to change the prosecutors because there are difficult times ahead and they wanted to ensure they have control of the prosecution offices that will have to deal with the difficult issues.”
Febles said that all of the sudden, on Monday, 23 July, the terms of the evaluation and selection process were published on the Attorney General (PGR) website ordering the PGR prosecutors and Administrative Corruption (Pepca) prosecutors to submit their application materials if they sought to continue in their posts or be assigned to others. Febles says the convening of the contest was in violation of the law that establishes that prosecutors’ performance need only to be reviewed to serve a second four year term, and no where is there a mention of these having to sit for testing.
Febles said the contest was called on 23 July. On that same day seven promotions were ordered, so that those people could be in certain positions in order to participate in the contest.
The bases for the contest were published two days later, on 25 July. The applications needed to be submitted by Friday, 27 July. This meant that prosecutors who were abroad, even on the job, as was the case of the Santiago prosecutor, would be excluded. The first test was given on Saturday, 28 July. An extension to 3 August was given for people to apply.
A WhatsApp thread circulated on social media commenting that those who had taken a course that was required to participate in the selection process would award 5 points to the applicant. When the message went viral, the PGR office published an amendment. The WhatsApp was intended only for the prosecutors and only the members of the Public Ministry Council and a chosen few had participated in the course that would give five points towards the selection.
Febles said that her sources within the Public Ministry indicate that the key positions, including those for Santo Domingo, Santiago and asset laundering have already been chosen and they are persons that are close to Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez.
She speculated that now that she is taking the situation into the open, there were likely to be changes. But her sources said the government has chosen Rosalba Ramos to be the next National District prosecutor. On Ramos’ biography is that she was legal coordinator working with Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez.
Febles reported that her sources indicate that for Santiago, the prosecutor choice is Aura Luz Garcia, who was sworn in as interim prosecutor on 4 April 2018 by Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez.
For the asset laundering prosecutor position, she said Dulce Luciano is chosen. She was one of the people Attorney General Rodriguez had brought to work with him during his stint at the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD).
Febles also says that two members of the Superior Council of the Public Ministry, the same members who participated in creating the bases and the questions on which the prosecutors were tested for the prosecutor positions. These are Edward Manuel Lopez Ulloa and Jose Manuel Aguilo Taveras. Febles mentioned that during the test, several prosecutors hinted they had benefited from a cheat sheet.
Febles also focused on who the selection jurors are. To choose the country’s prosecutors, the Attorney General Office included Fernando Quezada, who was on the same day the contest was published, appointed to the position so he could be a juror. He is infamously known as the prosecutor who filed away the case against “Father Johnny” in Constanza, after the later was accused of pedophilia and sexual abuse. Months later, in October 2017 Pope Francisco would lead a papal effort to defrock the priest after finding him guilty of the same sexual abuse charges for which Quezada said there was no evidence.
Another juror for the prosecutor selection procedure is Juan Amado Cedano Santana who was appointed to his position in the PGR on the same day the contest was convened, Monday, 23 July 2018.
The third juror had been named careers director of the Public Ministry in an expedited contest called on 4 July 2018 in the media. With the deadline set for 9 July, Victor Lora was named careers director of the Public Ministry on 11 July 2018. Lora, served as coordinator for special matters at the Attorney General Office. Febles said his background did not qualify him for the careers director at the PGR position. Online photos show Lora distributing school supplies and meeting with community people. Febles said he served as administrative advisor to Jean Alain Rodriguez when they both worked at CEI-RD, after Rodríguez was appointed head during the first government of Medina in 2012.
Febles commented that the government has the power to break the law to impose greater control on the Public Ministry, “but don’t tell us you are complying with the law.”
Fellow TV talk show host, Ricardo Nieves expressed his embarrassment at the manipulation and seemingly corrupt process that was apparently taking place within the Public Ministry. He said he would wait to hear the position of the executive director of the Foundation for Institutionality and Justice (Finjus), Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, now that the latter was named oversight in the process. Nieves questioned whether Castaños would speak up or would legitimize the procedure.
“This is about the future of the penal prosecution and the present of administration of justice,” he said.
Co-host Altagracia Salazar continued: This is impunity.” She summed up: “The prosecutor has assumed the political decision to guarantee impunity before the cases arrive to the judiciary.”
But she said: “There is no longer absolute control of information, there will always be someone who will leak what is happening.”
The talk show hosts directed the general public to see Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez personal web page where he defines himself first as a “politician” in his profile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_Ma0_6X8Y
http://www.jeanrodriguez.do/perfil/
Participación Ciudadana expresses concern over contest for prosecutors
Citizen Participation has expressed its profound concern with the procedure that has been launched by the Attorney General’s Office to select new prosecutors.
The system has been denounced by several sectors as a way of dismissing several prosecutors who have done a good job, and to substitute them with others, and is also said to violate the law. Article 41 of Law 133-11 establishes that the position of head prosecutor is for four years, and they can be confirmed for one more consecutive period. However, before this second period is over there is now a competition to replace them before the end of the first or second term.
In a press release they say that the competition violates the law as it omits the evaluations stipulated by the law and imposes this procedure on those who are already in post.
It calls on Jean Alain Rodríguez, Attorney General to correct the violations and lack of transparency and equality in this process.
http://hoy.com.do/participacion-ciu...olaciones-a-la-ley-en-concurso-para-fiscales/
https://www.metrord.do/do/destacado...ion-violaciones-la-ley-concurso-fiscales.html
Ana Figueiredo: New president for Altice
Altice Dominicana has announced that the new president for their Dominican operations will be Ana Figueiredo. Figueiredo, who is Portuguese, has more than 15 years experience in telecoms having had positions in Brazil, Africa, United States and Europe.
Armando Pereira, chief operating officer for Altice Europe, says her leadership would bring great success to the country and they would continue to support the DR and provide the best telecoms and entertainment service to all Dominicans.
Dominican executive Rafael Pichardo was appointed as deputy chief executive officer.
http://almomento.net/designan-a-ana-figueiredo-como-presidenta-de-altice-dominicana/
https://acento.com.do/2018/economia...eva-presidenta-operaciones-altice-dominicana/
Police and Army sent to Navarrete
Combined troops of the National Police and the Army were sent to Navarrete yesterday, Tuesday 31 July, where a strike began, called by the Popular Front (Falpo) for an undetermined length of time. The strikers were calling for better electrical and water services, the repair of schools and resurfacing of the roads.
There were homemade bombs were set off and shots fired provoking panic in the town and causing the dispatch of Swat members and other specialized parts of the National Police.
According to Falpo official, Pablo Ferreira, Navarrete had had at least 15 years with problems with the water supply hence he said that the strike would continue until the government agreed to build an aqueduct to guarantee drinking water to the area.
Businesses in Navarrete remained closed and transportation from Santiago to the northwest and the border region was seriously affected as was transit from Santiago to Puerto Plata.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...n-contingente-a-navarrete-por-paro-de-labores
Emely Peguero trial at end of August
Judges in Duarte province have said that the trial of Marlon and Marlín Martínez will begin on 29 August 2018. Marlon is accused of the murder of pregnant Emely Peguero. Marlin Martinez, the mother of Marlon is accused as an accessory to the crime, including being involved in the disposal of the body.
The presiding judge of the case is María de los Ángeles Concepción. She shares the court duties with Judges Arelis Camacho and Ana María Gómez. De los Angeles Concepcion announced the date of the start of the trail to the lawyers of the accused, the lawyers of the family of the victim and the Public Prosecution Service.
The coercive measures will also be reviewed prior to the beginning of the trial.
Emely Peguero’s body was found dead inside a suitcase in the community of Cayetano Germosén, Espaillat province on 31 August, 2017. The autopsy revealed she died as a consequence of a botched abortion and a blow to the head.
The Martinez’s say they will appeal the start date of the case.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...rlin-y-marlon-martinez-por-asesinato-de-emely
Businessman’s daughter seriously injured
The National Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the serious injury caused to the daughter of businessman Freddy Espinal, owner of the bus company, Transporte Espinal that runs the route daily from Santiago to the Capital.
María Altagracia Espinal Vargas, aged 31, was beaten in several parts of her body, in her home in the Jardines Metropolitanos sector of Santiago and is in a serious condition.
Last Thursday, 26 July 2108, she left her father’s business to return home to receive a furniture delivery. When she did not answer her phone, her family went to her apartment where they discovered her to be unconscious. She was taken to hospital in Santiago but with no improvement in her condition her family decided to transfer her to a hospital in the United States where she is said to be in stable condition.
Family members have no idea who could have attacked Espinal or why. It appears the attackers used the emergency staircase to enter her apartment.
On Tuesday, 31 July 2018, Listin Diario reported the Police arrested a physician as a person of interest in the case. The unnamed physician was arrested in his residence in Padre las Casas neighborhood in Santiago.
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...al-fue-llevada-a-eeuu-para-recibir-atenciones
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...te-espinal-herida-por-desconocidos-OD10462268
https://www.listindiario.com/la-rep...la-hija-del-propietario-de-transporte-espinal
http://hoy.com.do/los-detalles-sobr...nal-tras-haber-sido-atacada-por-desconocidos/
Medickson del Orbe wins gold in judo
Medickson del Orbe won the Dominican Republic’s 80th medal, a gold, in the judo competition of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. The DR now has won 22 gold, 19 silver and 44 bronze medals for the fifth plae. The DR is behind Mexico, Cuba, Colombia and Venezuela in the event standing. Del Orbe defeated Puerto Rican Adrian Gandia. Del Orbe trains in Spain.