TV’s investigative journalist par excellence, Nuria Piera, disclosed a big business deal carried out by Samuel Dario Núñez Guzmán and businessman Edmon Elias Barnichta Geara. The scandal revolves around the purchasing from the state of a 3,382 meter lot for RD$5 per meter (RD$16,940) and its resale days later for more than RD$1,000 per meter (RD$3,500,000), according to legal documents. The transaction took place in December 2000. Land in that area is appraised at RD$2,000 per meter, thus the market price for the lot was RD$6.7 million, according to a detailed report in the Listin Diario today reporting on the Channel 13 investigative journalism show. As is her style, Nuria requested the confirmation of the sale from the authorities, Bienes Nacionales, the government organization that is in charge of government property. The director of the department, Victor Tió Fernandez said he was unaware of the case and would get back to the journalist. He did. Tió Fernandez in a letter denied the transaction having passed through his office and denied his signature on the document. He said there is no document in the archives of the institution indicating that the lot is property of the state. The notary public that validated the document confirms that it is his signature. But Tio says his signature is being falsified and said he has notified the Police in writing of this. Chief of the Police Pedro de Jesus Candelier says he has not received a letter regarding this matter. When asked, Acting President Milagros Ortiz Bosch said the matter was scandalous and referred the case to Guido Gomez Mazara, legal advisor to the Executive Branch. Attorney General Virgilio Bello Rosa said that he was ordering an investigation into the recent transactions of the Bienes Nacionales department.
