Attorney Tomas Castro has asked the Department for the Prevention of Corruption (DEPRECO) to open an investigation concerning a RD$9 billion fraud detected at Banco del Progreso, which is allegedly the main reason behind the removal of the bank’s president Pedro Castillo. According to Listin Diario, DEPRECO Director Octavio Lister says that the fraud was detected by the Superintendence of Banks and consists of parallel accounting, or hidden bank, whereby the banking group had issued commercial papers worth RD$9 billion. Castro said he could not understand why the authorities had not investigated the case if it was discovered several months ago and there are special prosecutors for banking cases. He explained that the Banco del Progreso case is similar to the other collapsed banks, and includes loans to associates that are defined as asset laundering in Law 72-02. Lister said he would study the case and will open an investigation, which would include all those implied in the case. Castro has presented a list of witnesses he thinks should take the stand, including Superintendent of Banks Rafael Camilo, Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu, former Banco del Progreso President Pedro Castillo, and the members of the Bank’s Board of Directors. He also mentions Francisco Alvarez, attorney to Banco del Progreso and the Central Bank and Juan Jose Arteaga, a member of the bank. The case involves violations of the Monetary and Financial Law, Asset Laundering, falsehood in public and private documents and criminal association, among other accusations.