Two of the alleged perpetrators of the spectacular bank robbery at the Banco Popular on Avenida Maximo Gomez, near Nicolas de Ovando, have been captured by the police and were presented to the news media on 8 May. On 2 May, four individuals, two of which are still sought by the police, convinced the maid of the branch manager, Juan Beltre Perez, to let them into Mr. Beltre’s apartment. They then tied her up and waited for the arrival of Mr. Beltre and his family at midday. The family members were also then tied up, and two of the robbers escorted Mr. Beltre to the bank, where they forced him to order his cashiers to make up a package containing RD$1,000,000. A total of RD$1,464,000 was taken from the bank, RD$291,894 of which has been recovered by the police. The accused are Yovanny Rodriguez, Juan Fondier, Francisco Almonte and Raul Martinez. The latter two have yet to be found by the police.
17-23 May 1996