The Attorney General Office prosecutors announced they will continue investigating possible sexual harassment by the director of the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD), Leonardo Faña. The claim was presented by his former financial director, Maria Isabel Flores. She worked at the IAD from 18 August 2020 to 11 January 2021. Faña had said Flores resigned to take on a better job.
On Wednesday, 27 January 2021 it was reported that the woman had removed the sexual assault charges against her former boss. The accusations against employers for sexual abusive behavior are rare in the Dominican Republic both in the public and private sector.
The chief prosecutor of the National District, José del Carmen Sepúlveda, confirmed that he received the notification of the dismissal of the complaint for sexual assault filed by a woman against Leonardo Faña, director of the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD). The Executive Branch suspended Faña from the position after the case was filed against him on 18 January by the Unit for Attention and Prevention of Gender Violence.
The announcement that the Attorney General Office would continue the case came concurrently with the appointment of Jose Daniel del Rosario Valdez as interim director at the IAD. The appointment is in Decree 45-21 issued on 27 January 2021. Del Rosario serves as environmental advisor to the President. The decree explains that Del Rosario would serve in the position through the duration of the investigations.
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Attorney General Office
N Digital
El Dia
Diario Libre
27 January 2021