Former supervisor of public works and close aide to former President Hipolito Mejia, today Duarte senator Hernani Salazar is challenging lawyer Marino Vinicio (Vincho) Castillo to come up with the proofs of millionaire fraud during his term in government. “I am responsible for all that was done by my department during the government of former President Mejia, and am ready to respond to any questions on the handling of funds and even to resign my congressional immunity,” as reported in El Caribe newspaper. Following the end of the Mejia government, he finagled his way to be appointed senator of Duarte province. Legislators have privileged jurisdiction and cases against them can only be heard by the Supreme Court. Salazar is married to a Supreme Court justice appointed during the Mejia administration, Eglys Margarita Esmurdoc.
Salazar spoke after Castillo had commented that results of an audit of the Supervisory Office of Public Works showed there had been millionaire fraud committed during Salazar’s term. Castillo offered the state to take the case only charging a percentage of what he would be able to recover for the state.