District Attorney Francisco Domínguez Brito said that the two brothers accused of over a RD$5 million fraud against Bancrédito using ATM cards will remain in jail, despite a court order to the contrary. Judge Alexis Henríquez Núñez released brothers Carlos Arturo and Rafael Emilio Santamaría Gonell on the technicality that a prison order from competent authorities was not amongst the papers of the case he received from Judge Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleón, who preceded him. District Attorney Domínguez said the brothers will be retained as they have pending another case with the authorities. The Listín Diario reported that Attorney General Abel Rodríguez del Orbe and Domínguez met last weekend and decided that if the brothers were released this would make banks vulnerable to an increase in frauds. Shortly after the judgment was issued by Judge Henríquez, the Supreme Court of Justice suspended the judge who had gained notoriety for handling the José Rafael Llenas Aybar case, the controversial case of the murder of a 12-year old. Judge Henríquez headed the Primera Cámara Penal of the National District, after he replaced judge Miriam Germán Brito when the latter was promoted to the Cámara Penal de la Corte de Apelación de Santo Domingo. Judge Alexis Henriquez defended the judgment saying, "My performance is nothing for which I should be sorry. I can stand tall because my decision was based on the law and what the Supreme Court of Justice itself has established." He said he expects the investigation that has been called will clear up what has happened and establish responsibilities. Press reports indicate that the Supreme Court of Justice may also have suspended Judge Juan Miguel Castillo Pantaleón.
