Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito says that his office has opened an investigation into allegations of bribery in the purchase of the Super Tucano Embraer jets used for combating drug trafficking. According to a Reuters press release, an investigation has been opened abroad. In response to questions from journalists on whether former armed forces ministers could be investigated, he said: “All is open, an investigation process has been opened, what we really want to know is whether there was bribery.” He said that while it is the responsibility of the state prosecutors to investigate, Defense Minister Sigrido Pared Perez has already expressed his willingness to cooperate.
According to legal documents obtained by Reuters, the US and Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Embraer SA bribed officials from the Dominican Republic to change the contracts for sale of commercial and defense aircraft. The probe is looking into the US$92 million deal with the Dominican Armed forces for eight Super Tucano fighter jets that are used to police the skies for drug operations. In the documents checked by Reuters the prosecutors cite evidence that Embraer executives approved a US$3.4 million bribe to a Dominican official with influence in military purchases.
Dominguez Brito has ordered the Director of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Unit, Laura Guerrero to launch an investigation into the matter.
http://hoy.com.do/procurador-dice-iniciaron-una-investigacion-de-super-tucano/