The DR’s Attorney-General, Mariano Germán Mejía, yesterday ordered the release of a Dominican man held while waiting a decision on his possible extradition to the United States. 33-year old Victor López Paulino had been detained by the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) and the U.S. had sought his extradition to stand trial for allegedly killing four people in New York City and international trafficking of cocaine. He was also wanted for providing false declarations to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. López Paulino’s lawyer had demanded his client’s release because the 60-day holding period under current law had passed without a decision by President Fernández whether or not to extradite the man. The U.S. Embassy expressed dismay at the action, and asked the Public Ministry to explain how such a thing could occur. Embassy spokesman Michael Stanton called the release "extremely worrisome."
