The Fifth Civil and Commercial Court of Santo Domingo has ordered the judicial authorities to return the List?n Diario to its former owner, Ram?n B?ez Romano, father of the president of collapsed bank, Banister (Ram?n B?ez
Figueroa). Judge Samuel Arias Arzeno?s deposition orders the return of the newspaper without bond and without interference of any motion against the return. Arias Arzeno viewed the handling of the seizures to be in violation of the fundamental rights
of B?ez Romano, as provided by Article 47 of the Constitution, as well as Article 8. A key point in the judge?s ruling was the fact that the District Attorney based the confiscation on Law 17-02 on Asset Laundering, but the List?n Diario had been
purchased by B?ez Romano over the 1999-2001 time frame ? before the Asset Laundering Law had been passed. The lawyers of the Central Bank gave no proof that the List?n Diario was involved in any activities covered by Law 17-02, but said they would
appeal the decision of Arias Arzeno.