Tourism business organizations in Cabarete and Sosua are urging Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito to appeal against a decision by a court in Puerto Plata that has discharged Gabriel Mora (Canoa) and Eddy Morfe of accusations of corruption involving RD$189 million in the local government of Cabarete.
During the hearing on Monday, 21 August 2014, judges Rosa Francia Liriano, Irina Ventura and Venecia Rojas said that the arguments presented by the Attorney General did not contain sufficient proof to declare the accused guilty.
The leaders of the Cabarete Development Association (ADECA), Michel Gay-Crossier, the Sosua and Cabarete Hotel Association (ASHORESOCA) Tomas Callender and the Sosua Sustainable Development Association Andres Gustavo Pastoriza said that the appeal should be heard in a court outside of Puerto Plata. They said that historically, judges in Puerto Plata have ruled leniently in favor of the former municipal director of Cabarete. They expressed doubts after defenders and friends of Canoa and Morfe declared publicly that their discharge had been “arranged” and that they would be released on grounds of insufficient evidence.
The accusation against Canoa and Morfe was presented by Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito in February 2013 for serious damage to the Laguna de Cabarete, along with other charges.
Read more in Spanish: http://acento.com.do/2014/politica/8168652-asociaciones-piden-dominguez-brito-apelar-decision-tribunal-descarga-canoa/