Judge Ramón González Pérez ordered the release of Dr. Rafael Pedro González Pantaleón on grounds that his imprisonment is illegal as it was not ordered by a judge. González Pantaleón was found guilty of fraud against Medicare, the U.S. Federal Government medical insurance program. He was sentenced to 78 months in prison or the payment of a US$3.5 million fine. The physician was director of the Dominican Institute of Social Security and ambassador before the United Nation during the past governments of Dr. Joaquín Balaguer. He is sought in extradition by the United States judicial authorities. His lawyers say a law dating to 1969 prohibits the extradition of Dominicans. Dr. Pantaleón says he was framed.
