President Danilo Medina replaced Minister of Industry and Commerce Temístocles Montas with architect Nelson César Toca Simó by Decree 210-17.
Montas is in pre-trial detection. He faces charges of receiving money from Angel Rondon Rijo to ensure the transacting and financing of the loans for Odebrecht projects. He is also accused of accepting money for his pre-candidacy of the Presidency in 2008, 2012 and 2016, as reported in Diario Libre.
7 Dias reports that back in 2008, Toca Simó was removed from the Department of Urban Planning of the National District Municipality (ADN) by the Council of Aldermen of the National District after accusations of presenting obstacles to the granting of construction licenses and permits for changes in land use. The motion was backed by former city mayor Roberto Salcedo.
A year later, Toca would be named by then President Leonel Fernandez to the post of deputy secretary of Economy and Planning. He worked closely with Montas at the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Diario Libre reports he remained on the payroll of the Ministry of Economy and Planning as of September 2016 in the role of advisor with a monthly wage of RD$255,000. In January 2017, he appeared at the Ministry of Industry of Commerce with the same wage of RD$255,000 and the same position as advisor.
Read more in Spanish:
7 Dias
Hoy
12 June 2017
