The disciplinary trial against former President Hipolito Mejia, the PRD interim president Andres Bautista, general secretary Orlando Jorge Mera and organizational secretary Geanilda Vasquez, is ready to start at 9am today, Monday 14 January at the party’s National House, located on the Enrique Jimenez Moya Avenue in Santo Domingo. The national prosecutor for the PRD, Deputy Geovanny Tejada said that the leading party members have been duly served their summonses so that they can present their defenses.
Mejia described the subpoena that was issued for him and the other leading members of his party as an offence that shows a lack of respect for the party’s history, which has always been the standard for liberty and democracy in the country. He also said that he was not going to stop and question the motives of those that have summoned him before the PRD Disciplinary Council. The accused warned that they are not going to leave the party. “If they do not attend, the regulations establish that they can be judged in absentia,” said Tejada. He said that they would hold a public hearing, open to the press and anyone interested in seeing the proceedings. Tejada said that the process is unique in the history of the Dominican Republic.
He suggested that they have prepared a case that tries to guarantee the rights of the people who have been subpoenaed, respecting their right to a defense, their dignity, honor, reputation and person. “We only hope that they attend in order and can present their defense cases,” he said. He continued by saying that each one had been notified of the alleged violations of the statutory regulations that they have committed, and which are duly penalized.