The watchdog group Citizen Participation (PC) has rejected the idea of releasing former banker Ramon Baez Figueroa, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2007 on conditional freedom as he requested. Judge Willys de Jesus Nunez, the judge in charge of the Execution of the Sentence in San Cristobal, has taken the request under advisement. In a statement made yesterday, Tuesday 13 August, PC says that the famous case of Bernie Madoff should be an example for Baez. Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for his part in the pyramid scheme that collapsed and caused billions to disappear. Baez Figueroa and Banco Intercontinental (Baninter) caused the Central Bank to have to pay out RD$109 billion pesos (RD$109,150,000,000) of which Baninter was directly responsible for RD$79 billion. Two other banks also fell: Bancredito (RD$23 billion) and Banco Mercantil (RD$6 billion).