The Third Collegiate Tribunal of the First Instance Court of Santiago has postponed the start of the case of Vice President Margarita Cedeno vs. lawyer and TV host Marcos Martinez until 12 May 2015. The former First Lady is accusing the TV host of defamation and for presenting allegedly forged bank documents that identified her as the holder of a Danish bank account with more than EUR40 million. When the TV program was aired, Margarita Cedeno, who is married to former President Leonel Fernandez, was the First Lady of the Dominican Republic.
Judge Deyanira Mendez postponed the case to recall one of the witnesses Cedeno has named to make her case, Second Lieutenant Jonatan Francisco Gonzalez, for questioning.
Martinez has complained that he is not being allowed to defend his case in equal conditions as the Vice President, as she was allowed to be represented by her lawyers in court. He said the court’s decision is another demonstration of the way that the Vice President and her husband, former President Leonel Fernandez, allegedly manage the Dominican judicial system.
Luis Miguel Pereyra has represented the Vice President since 23 February 2012.
Bail of RD$800,000 in cash was set for Martinez and he cannot travel abroad while the case is being heard.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2015/03/03/i1038761_aplazan-juicio-demanda-vicepresidenta-contra-comunicador-marcos-martnez.html
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2015/3/3/358430/Aplazan-juicio-de-fondo-contra-comentarista-Marcos-Martinez