Shlomo Ben-Tov, alias Sam Goodson, said he would return to the DR to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the Plan Renove transport scandal as long as he receives guarantees that he can leave once he has entered the country. Interpol issued a warrant for his arrest on 14 January. Goodson lives in Miami and is denying accusations of bribery and overvaluing of the vehicles sold by his company, as well as other allegations. He said that the Dominican scandal has affected his other business in Latin America. The authorities have a copy of a notarized contract in which Goodson commits to pay Angel Rondon Rijo US$995,000 in return for Rondon pushing through the transaction with the Dominican government. Goodson denied that the funds he paid to Rondon were intended for bribing Congress. He said that he sought Rondon because the latter worked as an adviser to foreigners on lending money to Dominicans and on how to obtain a loan authorized by the Central Bank. He said that Rondon sued him for non-fulfillment of the contract, but that their differences were settled out of court. Rondon is also linked to the Baninter banking crisis. See http://www.crisisbancaria.com/Baninter_1/Apap/ANEXO3.htm
Goodson added that he was able to resolve a conflict with Magna Motors, who as legal representatives of Hyundai in the DR disputed that the vehicles could be imported through another company. He said his only contact with Johnny Morales, also involved in the Plan Renove case, was social.
On 18 November 2004 the attorney general’s office issued an arrest warrant against Goodson and ten other transport union leaders and former government officials involved in Plan Renove.