Three former government officials who served in the Hipolito Mejia administration are under investigation by the Department for the Prevention of Corruption (DEPRECO), for the alleged over-valuation by RD$500 million of land expropriated in the Puerto Escondido community of Azua, after the US Agency for International Development (USAID) submitted a complaint to the National Ethics Commission. Listin Diario reports that former Administrative Secretary of the Presidency Rafael Calderon, former National Treasurer Pastora Mendez, and former assistant accountant Jesus Vasquez, are the officials who are being investigated, according to DEPRECO Director Octavio Lister. DEPRECO informed that the past administration paid out RD$339 million for a plot of land in Azua that was only valued at RD$34 million. The sale took place in 1983 but the payments were not made until 2004 to the owners of two companies-Puerto Escondido and Agricola Ganadera-that include relatives of former Administrative Secretary of the Presidency, Flores Estrella. Lister explained that his department is carrying out appraisals in order to determine the exact value of the land. Also under scrutiny is whether the former officials engaged in irregularities by paying a debt of more than RD$500 million with internal bonds
Diario Libre indicates the three former officials have already been questioned at DEPRECO.