The case of Jose Figueroa Agosto is being investigated amidst a series of distractions. At one moment the attention of the investigating commission is focused on correcting contradictions and issues inside the investigation itself, and at other times it has to fight leaks to the media. None of this helps the real investigation.
The latest problem was the leak of the “list” found in the possession of Ricardo Ivanovich Smester Ginebra. The list disappeared and was altered, according to El Caribe newspaper. It was reported to be an “expense list” and was being kept as a highly valued piece of evidence, but it was leaked to a website. The District Attorney for the National District, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra was highly displeased, and took the leak as an attempt to discredit the work being done by the District Attorney’s office. According to El Caribe, only one general had a copy of the list and that was obtained after the members of the investigating commission had interviewed Smester Ginebra.
They have also come up against what the newspaper is calling “subtle” stumbling blocks placed in the way of the investigating commission. They point out that when Omar Antigua Polanco was killed it was assumed that he was Figueroa Agosto’s operations chief.
Four days later the District Attorney found out that this man had been Figueroa Agosto’s closest associate, despite the fact that both the National Police and the National Drug Control Department (DNCD), both members of the commission, knew of the connection at the time of the killing but did not say anything to the DA.