The state’s trial versus six accused of their involvement in the Odebrecht bribes reopens in a Santo Domingo court. The Brazilian construction company Norberto Odebrecht admitted in a New York City court to paying US$92 million in the Dominican Republic to obtain contracts worth millions between 2001 and 2014. The Attorney General Office had incriminated 14 persons but absolved eight. The case was originally heard in the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ). Yet that court would determine it should be heard by ordinary justice. The Covid-19 epidemic delayed the start of the hearings that resume today
Last week, Attorney General Miriam German recursed herself from the Attorney General Office investigation and prosecution of the Odebrecht US$92 million bribery case. When presiding the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, German had alerted to errors in the prosecution then under Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez that could have consequences for true justice. Rodríguez was incidental to the removal of German from the Supreme Court of Justice.
Seventy-seven company executives agreed to plea bargains with Brazilian authorities, and their statements to investigators were made public. Former attorney general Rodríguez built the Dominican case merely on the written incriminations relevant to the Dominican Republic that were received from the Odebrecht officers.
Diario Libre reports that Wilson Camacho, “characterized by being one of the most energetic litigators of the team of prosecutors that has handled the case from the beginning”, leads the team of prosecutors from the Specialized Prosecutor for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca). An expanded team of 19 prosecutors is now handling the case for the department responsible for combatting corruption among government officers.
The judges of the First Collegiate Court of the National District will determine the guilt or innocence of the defendants of various crimes who are free on bail. Judge Giselle Pérez Méndez presides the court. She is highly reputed in the judicial system.
The trial is scheduled to be heard at 9am. The defendants are businessman Ángel Rondón, former Senate president Andrés Bautista, former director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage (Inapa) Roberto Rodríguez, former Minister of Public Works Víctor Díaz Rúa, and notary public-attorney Conrado Pittaluga.
Angel Rondón Rijo is accused of bribery, money laundering and association with wrongdoers. Former senator Tommy Galán is accused of bribery, malfeasance, forgery, illicit enrichment and money laundering. Andrés Bautista is also charged with bribery, malfeasance, falsehood, illicit enrichment and money laundering. Víctor Díaz Rúa is accused of receiving bribes and prevarication in the exercise of his duties as Minister of Public Works.
The SCJ magistrate, Francisco Ortega carried out the investigation phase of the case. Ortega Polanco stated at the end of his participation in the case that “corruption cases do not expire.”
The Odebrecht case will be heard in-person, but in these Covid-19 virus times, access to the court room is limited and new protocols apply. All present must wear a mask permanently. The trial will be streamed online through a link that the Supreme Court of Justice is making available to the media.
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Diario Libre
Listin Diario
El Dia
21 September 2020