The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against the Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons (PETT), in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office of the district of Higuey obtained a 10-year prison sentence for three men who last year attempted to transport 45 Dominicans and Haitians to Puerto Rico illegally.
The defendants were arrested in May 2020 for their involvement in the illegal trafficking of 42 Dominicans and three Haitians, who paid between RD$50,000 and US$5,000.00 each for the trip.
The Collegiate Court of La Altagracia sentenced Carlos Rodríguez Mercedes, Nelson Rojas and Pascual Güílamo, to also pay a fine of 150 minimum wages each.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, represented by prosecutor Víctor Ramón Camacho, presented sufficient evidence which was admitted by judges Sagrario del Río Castillo, Domingo Alcides Duvergé Caraballo and Carmen Virginia Almonte.
The boat trip was intercepted about 23 nautical miles northeast of Cabo Engaño, in the province of La Altagracia by members of the Dominican Armada and US Coast Guard officers.
According to the sentence, Carlos Rodriguez Mercedes and Nelson Rojas directed or captained the boat, while Pascual Güílamo collected the money from the travelers.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office proved that the three men violated articles 1, letter F, and 2 of Law 137-03, on the Illicit Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons.
Since June of last year, the accused had been serving preventive detention in the Anamuya Correction and Rehabilitation Center, in the municipality of Higüey.
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Noticias SIN
16 December 2021