The Chamber of Deputies burst in fierce debates over the issue of whether or not to remove the legislative immunity of deputy Radhames Garcia Ramos (also known as “Chino” Ramos). Garcia is the former vice consul in Cape Haitian who provided false documents for 16 illegal Chinese immigrants and brought them across the border at Dajabon. The Supreme Court found Garcia Ramos guilty and sentenced him to 18 months in the Najayo jail.
Members of the legislature want to introduce a proposal that would strip the deputy of his legislative immunity. Other members of the chamber argued that the moment that Garcia Ramos was convicted by the Supreme Court he lost his immunity. Verbal battles between PLD and PRD legislators characterized the session in which 46 of the PRD deputies left the room and 66 of the 127 deputies present voted not to accept the proposal that would have stripped the deputy of his parliamentary immunity.
The Supreme Court has accepted to listen to a Habeas Corpus brief by the lawyers defending Garcia Ramos. Noted criminal defense lawyer Artagnan Perez Mendez is arguing that the night the court convicted Garcia Ramos, he was under the protection of parliamentary immunity and, thus, the conviction was invalid.