The media reported on the arrival on 2 February 2021 of Argenis Contreras, key suspect in the murder of lawyer Yuniol Ramírez. Contreras left the country in 2017, shortly after the murder in his vehicle parked in the main campus of the state UASD university. Yuniol Ramírez’s body was hidden and found on 11 October 2017.
Contreras will now face accusations against him in a National District court. He returned after the US justice cleared his deportation. Contreras arrived on a flight of Dominicans deported from the United States. The 4th Court of Instruction of the National District has fixed 12 March the date to give the ruling on whether the accused will be sent to trial.
The murder of the state university professor brought to the open widespread corruption at the Metropolitan Bus Service Office (Omsa). Manuel Antonio Rivas, former director of the OMSA, Faustino Rosario Díaz, former financial director of the entity, and Eddy Rafael Santana Zorrilla are others under investigation in this criminal case. The defense lawyers have maneuvered to separate the cases of corruption and murder. Nevertheless, the arrival of Argenis Contreras could bring new revelations that could give a new direction to the case.
Others accused in the case are José Mercado (El Grande), Víctor Ravelo C (El Herrero), Jorge Abreu (El Taxista), Contreras’ spouse Heidy Peña, and Lilian Francisca Suárez.
Wilson Camacho, head of the Specialized Prosecution for Administrative Corruption (Pepca) agency received Contreras at the Las Americas International Airport and notified him of the criminal charges against him. Contreras is now under arrest to answer to his alleged involvement in the murder of Yuniol Ramirez and charges of corruption.
From the airport, Contreras was taken to the Attorney General Office where he was questioned for several hours. He is under arrest at the Justice Palace jail in Ciudad Nueva, National District.
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2 February 2021