Jose Ignacio Medrano, sentencing judge in San Cristobal has changed the date of the appeal hearing for Sobeida Felix Morel to 4 January. She was sentenced for money laundering after reaching a plea bargain with local judicial authorities as a member of the drug trafficking network headed by Puerto Rican Jose David Figeroa Agosto and was appealing to be released from jail.
The decision was taken as the Public Prosecutor’s office wanted more time to analyze the defendant’s request for parole.
Felix Morel was convicted in September 2011, along with another six people accused of belonging to the same network. At the time one judge, Yuly Tamariz, said she thought she should receive a 15-year jail sentence and a fine of 150 minimum salaries, instead she was sentenced to five years and a fine of 50 minimum salaries.
El Caribe reports that Felix Morel attended the hearing yesterday, Wednesday 26 December with makeup, tight pants, high heels and a Gucci handbag. The newspaper recalls that when she arrived from Puerto Rico after turning herself into the authorities after having skipped bail to flee to the neighboring island to be with her lover she had returned to make headlines sporting her Louis Vuitton bag.
As reported, in the cooperation agreement reached with the Prosecutor’s Office on 28 March 2011, the District Attorney Office commits to not oppose a request for the inmate’s conditional release. Felix Morel argues that she has a record of good conduct and has completed 16 short courses at the Najayo jail.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/12/26/460019/SOBEIDA-SEGUIRA-EN-NAJAYOAplazan-para-el-cuatro-de-enero-solicitud-de
www.elcaribe.com.do/2012/12/27/sobeida-una-interna-que-pierde-glamour