President Leonel Fernandez has agreed to appear today before the District Attorney Maximo Aristy Caraballo for questioning regarding a RD$1.4 billion fund managed during his last eight months in office. Fernandez had rejected an “invitation” from Jesus Felix, director of the discredited Department for the Prevention of Corruption, an office of the Attorney General. Head of the former President’s legal counsel, Cesar Pina Toribio, said Fernandez was not legally obliged to do so but would appear because Fernandez and 15 of his cabinet officers who have also been summoned “feel morally compelled before the Dominican people to voluntarily appear to explain the transparency of their actions and contribute to a climate of order and peace in these times when both nationally and internationally there is serious tension.” A recent survey showed that 75% of Dominicans feel the Mejia government is doing little or nothing to prevent or fight corruption in government.
