The Attorney General Office has appointed Fernando Quezada as juror to choose the country’s prosecutors in a fast-tracked selection process that is taking place. Quezada is remembered as the Constanza prosecutor who failed to pursue the case against Father Johnny for pedophilia and sexual abuse in Constanza arguing there was lack of evidence. After prosecutor Fernando Quezada filed the accusations, the Roman Catholic Church announced the defrocking of the priest on grounds of the same available evidence.
Investigative reporter Edith Febles on Monday, 30 July 2018, presented on the Enfoque Matinal TV show, this and other evidence that questions the legitimacy of the selection process recently called by the Public Ministry to choose the new prosecutors, including many in key positions. Febles and fellow talk show hosts Altagracia Salazar and Ricardo Nieves expressed their concern the process was being rigged to ensure Attorney General Office control of future decisions by the to-be-appointed prosecutors.
On Tuesday, 31 August, Foundation of Institutionality and Justice (Finjus) executive vice president Servio Tulio Castaños said he would like to hear the replies the Public Ministry has to the revelations on the process to choose new prosecutors that have been made in the media. Castaños said there are many questions left open in reference to the fast tracking of the process, the members chosen for the assessment committee and the participation of members of the Superior Council of the Public Ministry as candidates for positions.
On 24 July 2018, Castaños had first stated that the process was “completely normal” and mandated by the law. He then expressed expectations then that the process would be done “with the greatest transparency.”
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2 August 2018
