The Second Hall of the Penal Chamber of San Francisco de Macoris, Carminia Caminero approved releasing Marlin Martinez from jail. She was sentenced initially to five years in jail, appealed and got the sentence reduced to two years that she has already served. She initially was accused of complicity in the murder of pregnant 16-year old Emely Peguero. The dreadful circumstances of the murder never were clear. The physician who intervened in the forceful abortion was never tried in court. Martínez’s 18-year old son was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Marlin Martinez was serving her sentence in Rafey Women’s Jail in Santiago. At the time of her arrest, she was the deputy director of the Passports Agency.
When Emely Peguero went missing, Marlin Martínez pleaded for the girl to return. This despite it later proven that she had helped remove the cadaver of the girl.
In November 2018, the Second Collegiate Court of San Francisco de Macoris sentenced her son Marlon Martinez to 30 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter, barbarism and child abduction.
The mother has been regarded by many as the intellectual author of the crime for her known comment that her son should resolve the situation (the pregnancy). Instead, she was sentenced to five years in prison for the crimes of child abduction and concealment of a body.
During the trial, evidence was produced to prove she was an accomplice. The surveillance cameras were removed as these showed evidence of the removal of the body from the apartment where she was murdered, the corpse was disposed of, an abortion was carried out. Yet, her lawyers were able to ensure that the judge only accept evidence that she had been incidental to the disposal of the cadaver, an action that carries a maximum of two years sentence in the Penal Code. This is how she won the case in appeal and her sentence was reduced to two years.
In May 2019, the Court of Appeal of the Judicial District of Duarte ratified the 30 years of imprisonment for Marlin Martínez’s son, Marlon Martínez. The same court reduced Marlin’s sentence from five to two years, and the victim’s parents’ compensation from RD$10 million to RD$5 million.
The family of Emely Peguero says they will appeal.
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Somos Pueblo
16 September 2020