Judge Miriam German Brito of the First Penal Chamber of Santo Domingo declared Miguel Angel Velazquez Mainardi guilty of slander on 25 September. Mr. Velazquez Mainardi was accused of slandering Deputy Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero by accusing him of participating in acts of corruption while in the post of Judicial Consultant to former President Salvador Jorge Blanco (1982-1986). Judge German Brito ordered Mr. Velazquez Maidardi to pay a RD$200 fine and RD$150,000 to Mr. Esquea Guerrero in damages, plus the costs of the case.
The next day, Mr. Velazquez Mainardi’s lawyers filed an appeal in the First Penal Chamber.