The Dominican Republic and the United States have agreed on their first new Extradition Treaty in 105 years. The revision is aimed at strengthening law enforcement cooperation and enhancing the extradition process between the two countries. The parties agreed to extend the range of extraditable offenses and establish new clear and contemporary extradition procedures.
The 2015 Extradition Treaty, which replaces one that dates back to 1909, takes account of the new crimes such as tax evasion, high technology, terrorism, and contract killings.
In addition it establishes that both countries promise to hand over people who intended to or conspired to commit crimes, as well as those who actually committed them.
The treaty was signed by Foreign Minister Andres Navarro and United States Ambassador James Brewster at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo, yesterday, Monday 12 January 2015. Navarro thanked the United States for “its partnership and solidarity” in recent years “to strengthen mechanisms for the protection of human rights and the rule of law.”
Negotiations began between both countries in October 2014 but the new treaty had been on the cards for a very long time. Both men congratulated Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito, who was also present at the ceremony, for his work toward reaching agreement on the treaty and for his efficient fight against crime.
The new treaty contains 22 articles, compared with 14 in the 1909 agreement. It includes articles on fraud, controls of money and assets as crimes leading to extradition.
Brewster hailed the signing of new extradition treaty as historic, adding that while the previous agreement had been successful, “times have changed and so have crimes.”
“This is a monumental day for law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Dominican Republic,” said Ambassador Brewster at the signing. “History will surely view the modernization of this treaty as an important contribution to the growing legacy of collaboration between our governments.”
US Embassy legal attache Alan Santiago was also present at the signing of the new Extradition Treaty.
The Dominican Republic had pursued the new extradition treaty to remedy situations such as that of drug traffickers that returning to demand the return of seized assets secured with their drug trafficking operations in the Dominican Republic after reaching deals with the US judiciary for short sentences.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2015/1/13/352364/Terrorismo-y-sicariato-figuran-en-el-nuevo-tratado-de-extradicion
http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/pr-150112.html