The National Police said that Police Lieutenant Jose Antonio Baez Japa was removed from the ranks yesterday by order of the Executive Branch. He is accused of allowing the escape of alleged drug trafficker Omar Francisco Santiago Cabrera, now a fugitive of the Police. The escape occurred 7 June from the Ciudad Nueva Court House. The lieutenant allowed Santiago to leave in a taxi along with two police officers. The taxi was later intercepted and Santiago escaped in a shootout. The Chief of Police Candelier said that the officer had received a RD$1 million bribe to facilitate the drug trafficker’s escape. The lieutenant was sent to the La Victoria jail and will be tried for violating internal regulations and for complicity in the escape of the inmate. Santiago was in jail accused of trafficking with 429 kilos of cocaine.
