The former director of the Supervisory Office of Public Works of the Presidency (Oisoe), Francisco Pagán Rodríguez is collaborating with state prosecutors in the Anti-Pulpo high-level government corruption case that involves brothers and sisters of former President Danilo Medina. He is also linked to the Larva case that involved major drug trafficking operations. The Oisoe was a parallel Ministry of Public Works during the past Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) governments. It was shut down during the new Abinader administration.
Pagán Rodriguez was named to the position in August 2015, in the first term of former President Danilo Medina. As reported, he confessed his participation in the corruption schemes listed in the Anti-Pulpo corruption case and Larva drug trafficking and laundering file. When he was appointed, reportedly, he was very much in debt. As reported, after taking office, he paid off a debt of around RD$20 million he owed to Presta Bella Vista, the cash-cashing and lending business of Luis Herasme Estrella, one of the lead suspects in the Larva drug trafficking and money laundering scheme. Once leaving the position in August 2020 with the change of government he had millions in the bank and was the owner of an apartment of 481.94 meters in the Torre Residencial Alco Paradisso on José Aybar Castellanos Street in La Esperilla, appraised at RD$39 million.
As reported, Pagan after being charged would return to the state assets illicitly acquired during his term at the Oisoe, as part of a deal he reportedly is reaching with the state prosecution.
Listin Diario reports that the prosecutors ascertained that Pagán had a plush lifestyle. Just at the Cantábrico Restaurant, prosecutors presented evidence he spent around RD$250,000 a month in meals. The prosecutors note that his salary at the Oisoe was under the monthly expenses in restaurant dining at the Cantábrico. Prosecutors documented that from 2017 to 2020, Pagán Rodríguez had spent at the restaurant RD$8,483,749.44.
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Listin Diario
Acento
El Dia
27 December 2021