The Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht has told Diario Libre it has not made any contributions to political campaigns in the Dominican Republic. It says it would not do so because Electoral Law 275-97 bans foreign companies from making donations to Dominican electoral campaigns.
The company has been accused of paying bribes to finance elections in Brazil, Angola and Venezuela. The leading Medina electoral campaign advisor, Joao Santana recently returned to his native Brazil to face charges in connection with the Odebrecht corruption scandal. As reported in the media, Santana admitted to Brazilian federal agents that he had received funds for political campaigns in Angola and Venezuela, but denied receiving Odebrecht funds for the Medina campaign.
Contracted works continue normally, according to the firm that has constructed a series of major public works projects in the DR over the past 15 years.
An investigation revealed that the company was contracted for 15 projects between 2002 and 2015.
The most controversial government project is the coal-fired power generation plant in Punta Catalina, in the southwestern province of Peravia (Bani), which has been criticized for overvaluation and for higher pollution levels.
Diario Libre, which has been covering the case, says that Brazilian prosecutors are awaiting documentation from the DR to continue their investigations into the implications of the corruption scandal on Odebrecht’s operations in the Dominican Republic.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/justicia/odebrecht-asegura-que-no-aporto-fondos-a-campanas-politicas-en-la-republica-dominicana-XI3129213
http://www.metrord.do/noticias/documentos-clave-de-joao-santana-odebrecht-conocia-sobornos/ftwpcw—7TDC6lcb2dYl2/
http://www.diarioantillano.com/2016/02/24/joao-santana-pieza-clave-en-trafico-de-influencia-a-favor-de-odebrecht/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/autoridades-brasilenas-investigan-las-operaciones-de-odebrecht-en-la-rd-CK3158325
