US$10 million in certificates of deposit formerly with Baninter, now in the care of the Central Bank, in the name of TV’s Aeromundo talk show host, Guillermo Gomez have been frozen, according to press reports. Judge Natividad Ramona Santos, of the Fifth Instruction Court, ordered that the TV producer present a RD$5 million guarantee and appear before the prosecutor’s office of the National District on the last day of every month. The judge ordered that the funds be held at a special account at the Attorney General’s office. The funds were retained after Gomez could not explain how he came into the money. The state prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible money laundering. Gomez argues that he is being subject to political persecution for his critical position re the government on his TV program. His lawyer, Carlos Balcacer said that the case couldn’t proceed because his client has already been judged for the same matter. As reported in Hoy newspaper, Gomez complained that the judge’s decision means that state prosecutors will be able to request the freezing of money obtained by professionals on a whim. He said he would prove that he is an honest man and that the money he has is the fruit of his 42 years of work. He said he would appeal against the decision.