The appeal by the former director of the public transport bus company Omsa, Manuel Rivas, who is in jail accused of corruption and ties to the assassination of UASD law professor Yuniol Ramírez has been suspended with no definitive date for the next hearing. The appeal was to be heard in Santo Domingo but was delayed as the Supreme Court of Justice has first to rule on the recusal asked for by the plaintiffs.
Ramón Ramírez, brother of murdered Yuniol Ramírez, has stated that some of the judges have strong ruling party political ties that could mean they would allow Rivas to be released. The family has asked the Supreme Court to move the case to the National District. It is being heard in northern Santo Domingo court after the body was found in northern Santo Domingo. But crime investigations determined Ramirez was killed in the National District and it was not until afterwards that the corpse was taken and dumped in the river where it was found.
Lawyer Carlos Salcedo, who is defending Rivas, has suggested that the family of Ramirez is using delaying tactics, for unknown reasons.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
24 January 2018
