The historic Anti-Octopus Operation case continued on Monday, 7 December 2020 with the nation able to follow online. Several media streamed the statements by prosecutors, defense lawyers and those charged with big time corruption in government and money laundering. The main accused in the case is the younger brother of former President Danilo Medina, Juan Alexis Medina. The name of the case comes from the extensive network of government suppliers that the prosecutors link to Juan Alexis Medina.
The latter is accused of using his family ties to profit from the state. Alexis Medina was a major supplier to the state with an impressive and diverse contracting with the state through a network of 19 companies. Social media comments have observed he was an “Amazon” for the Dominican government.
What is extraordinary in the case is that the prosecution has presented comprehensive details of the incriminations rather than a short review of reasons for the judge to impose a range of coercive measures. The defense responded with even longer expositions turning the case more into a preliminary hearing.
Will the accused be allowed to go home for Christmas, or will they have to remain in jail? Regardless, the unusual streaming of the coercive measure hearings has made Dominicans aware of what the past government was doing with taxpayer money and the lax controls in government.
The judge of the Permanent Attention Court of the National District, Jose Alejandro Vargas, is expected to announce his decision on coercive measures to the 11 accused by the Justice Department (Public Ministry) in the Operation Anti-Octopus when the hearing reopens at 5pm on Tuesday, 8 December 2020. The media gives Judge Vargas high marks for his mediation in the hearing and his general carrying of the case.
The state prosecutors have asked the judge to declare the case as complex and preventive custody for all, except for the former controller Rafael Germosén. The Justice Department sees the possibility of Germosén collaborating with the prosecutors and proposed that he instead be placed under house arrest and prevented from leaving the country.
During the presentations that lasted from 2pm to well after 1am, adjunct prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso explained why the Attorney General Office is no longer recommending the use of electronic shackles. Reynoso explained in court the service provider has ties to accused Juan Alexis Medina Sanchez, the brother of former President Danilo Medina.
The prosecutors also asked the court to immobilize the companies’ operations linked to Alexis Medina to prevent them from making transfers of shares and assets.
The defense lawyers argued their defendants complied with the law in their dealings as government officials and in contracting with the brother of former President Danilo Medina, Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez. Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez spoke towards the end of the second session of the coercive measures hearing, defending the legality of his business dealings and complaining that the Justice Department had been devastating for the Medina Sánchez family.
This Tuesday, 8 December Judge José Alejandro Vargas is expected to announce as of 5pm who gets coercive measures. The defendants are:
Fernando Aquilino Rosa Rosa, former president of the Patrimonial Fund of the Capitalized Companies (Fonper)
Former Public Health Minister Lorenzo Wilfredo (Freddy) Hidalgo Núñez
Former director general of the Office of State Works Supervisory Engineers (Oisoe) Francisco Pagán.
Carmen Magalys Medina Sánchez, former vice president of Fonper
Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez, businessman, supplier and politician
Rafael Antonio Germosén Andújar, former controller
Aquiles Alejandro Cristofer Sánchez
Julian Esteban Suriel Suazo
José Dolores Santana Carmona
Domingo Antonio Santiago Muñoz
Wacal Vernavel
Follow the story in Spanish:
El Informe con Alicia Ortega
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8 December 2020