The Senate rejected removing parliamentary immunity to senators Julio César Valentín (Santiago-PLD) and Tommy Alberto Galán (San Cristóbal-PLD) on 26 July 2017. Previously, the Chamber of Deputies had rejected removing parliamentary immunity to Alfredo Pacheco of the PRM. The three are accused by the Attorney General Office for having received bribes from the Brazilian company, Odebrecht for the approval of loans for the construction of public works in the Dominican Republic.
The request for removal of parliamentary immunity had been made by the instruction judge of the case, Francisco Ortega. Parliamentary immunity establishes that the case against the legislators be heard by the Supreme Court of Justice. Likewise, the legislators cannot be sent to jail while the legislative sessions are underway.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
OPD
27 July 2017
