Yesterday, the Criminal Chamber of the National District Court of Appeals revoked the sentence against the 12 defendants of the past government accused of fraud, prevarication, falsification and criminal association in the Plan Renove case to the tune of RD$1.8 billion. According to a report by Diario Libre, defendants Pedro Franco Badia, Antonio Marte, Milciades Amaro, Blas Peralta, Antonio Perez, Freddy Williams Mendez, Alfredo Culinario Linares (Cambita), Gervasio de la Rosa and Paulino Antonio Reynoso (Padre Tono), were found not guilty on the grounds that the accusations had not been able to be proven. The decision reaped major headlines in the local press. The Attorney General described the sentence as “shameful and irritating” and the Executive Branch Legal Consultant believes it is evidence that judges cannot be entrusted with public morality.
El Caribe indicates that the sentence was issued by judges Ignacio Camacho, Nancy Joaquin and Luis Roman revoking all parts of a previous decision by National District 5th Criminal Chamber judge Esther Agelan Casanovas.