The defense of Alen Alexis Villalona says it will appeal the three months preventive custody order by a Baní court. Villalona was sent to jail while the public ministry prepares the case against him. During the first hours of 1 January 2022, Villalona was captured on video when he beat up Santa Arias after the woman crashed her small motorbike into his vehicle on a Baní street. She had the right of way on the street. The abusive beating was caught on video and went viral. For two weeks, Villalona was on the run, to be finally captured by the Police on 14 January, hiding in the house of a niece in El Fundo, Peravia province.
Santa Arias was kept at a Ministry of Women shelter. The agreement is dated 27 January 2022. The defense of Santa Arias says the woman has desisted in pressing charges against Vilallona. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Women and state prosecutors will continue the case.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office had asked the court for one year of preventive imprisonment against Villalona. Jorge de los Santos, the defense lawyer, submitted during the hearing the document certifying that Arias would not press charges. Arias was present during the hearing when the court mandated Villalona serve three months in preventive custody.
The Public Ministry and the Ministry of Women have said the withdrawal of charges does not stop the legal process and that on the contrary, they will continue with the lawsuit against Villalona, for whom they are asking for a 5-year prison sentence.
Angel Dario Fabal, Peravia’s chief prosecutor, said the Public Ministry would oppose any conciliation between Santa and Villalona.
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31 January 2022