The preliminary accusatory file in the murder of Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera by Fausto Miguel Cruz de la Mota confirms that the decision of Jorge Mera to not bend the law to favor his childhood friend caused the grievance that escalated into the rage that resulted in the murder.
The press and social media have been carrying much speculation as to what was the drop of water that overflowed the glass and caused Miguel Cruz to fire 13 shots at his childhood friend, Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera. Jorge died instantly in his office. Cruz left the minister’s office through a back staircase and walked out, leaving his daughter waiting for him in a vehicle. Instead, he took a motoconcho to a nearby church where he confessed to the crime and was arrested.
The prosecutors’ preliminary investigations confirm speculations that Cruz was smitten because he was not able to use all his years of friendship to get his friend, the minister, to bend the rules in his favor.
In the accusatory file presented on Wednesday, 8 June 2022, the prosecutors confirm Cruz was mad at Jorge Mera. “I campaigned and they need to resolve the issues for me,” he would state in a first-floor office where he demanded environmental licenses.
The Ministry says that Cruz had with him the documents of Aurum Gavia, S.A., a company that is now under investigation.
Social media has carried multiple reports of other companies for which Cruz de la Mota sought environmental permits.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office requests the imposition of one year preventive custody against Fausto Miguel de Jesús Cruz de la Mota. The prosecutors accuse Cruz de la Mota of the murder and the file mentions that the latter was angry when he entered the Ministry of Environment on Monday, 6 June because he had been denied a permit to export damaged batteries.
“I campaigned and they don’t solve my problem,” were some of the phrases the employees remember Cruz remarked in the minutes before the tragic outcome.
The prosecution document states that “the accused constantly visited the Ministry, where he showed up without an appointment and in an arrogant and imposing manner he pretended to be received by Jorge Mera”.
The file highlights that Jorge Mera had called his attention to the mistreatment of the personnel, but the accused believed he had the right to be in charge of the institution under the argument that “he had to be resolved and that he was not being given the attention he deserved.”
The Public Prosecutor’s Office cites as one of the disagreements of the accused the denial of the permit granted to the company under investigation Aurum Gavia, S.A. The file indicates this was not the only environmental permit sought by Cruz de la Mota.
According to the prosecution’s investigations, this company had requested a permit to export 5,000 tons of used batteries. Despite its rejection, Aurum Gavia S.A. had reintroduced the request. Miguel Cruz had this document in his possession when he visited the Ministry of Environment on 6 June.
According to the file, the employees said Cruz had threatened the legal consultant of the Ministry, Edilio Segundo Florián Santana less than a month ago. Cruz insisted he had been active in the political campaign but was angry that nothing was being resolved in his favor.
The report indicates that at around 10:50am on 6 June 2022 when Cruz de la Mota was in office of the National Director of the Ministry of the Environment, Juan Manuel Cuervo Desangles, he hit Ministry employee Alfonso Mendoza in the forehead, and invited Mendoza to do whatever regarding the aggression.
At the angry attitude of Cruz de la Mota, one of the officials had called the coordinator of the minister’s office, to tell her about the defendant’s attitude and warned her to call security.
The official looked for a security agent, but Cruz began to question the presence of the security. Jorge Mera had said it was okay and that they were close friends.
Cruz de la Mota is also officially accused of murder and illicit carrying and use of firearms. He fired 13 shots, of which six injured Jorge Mera in the head, chest, back and left hand. The last words of Jorge Mera, were: “Miguel, no!”
Diario Libre reports that witnesses deputy Nicolas Lopez and Juan de Dios Liberata that were waiting for a meeting with the Minister said that a man had entered the office and about a minute later they heard the shots. The door to the ministry was locked, so the staff had to get in by the back door to see what had happened.
In speaking after the funeral mass at the Presidential Palace, President Luis Abinader stated: “This tragedy tells us and defines what that getting appointed to be a public official is not a prize, but rather a great commitment with many challenges and much danger, and only the passion of serving with justice, with transparency, breaking the old schemes is what leads us to resist and continue managing the way the people require and how the circumstances mandate.”
During the wake and funeral ceremony, Jorge Mera was praised for his honesty in government and professional achievements. The media recalled that Jorge Mera had said he hoped to be remembered for his honesty after his death.
At a time when headlines usually focus on corrupt acts of government officers, this week the media has been full of evidence and comments of the honesty of a government officer. The murder of Environment Minister Jorge Mera is being attributed in the media and now in the official accusatory report to the minister’s not giving in to political patronage, influence peddling and corruption. Jorge Mera did not cede to pressures of his close friend, same party member and political contributor who sought the irregular environmental permits.
El Dia reports that the prosecutor file indicates that Miguel Cruz had a card accrediting him as a “honorary technical assistant of the Minister’s Office.” The card was found in a search of the Cruz’s vehicle.
In addition to the ID card, a summary of legal recourse dated 02/11/2020 requested by Fausto Miguel de Jesús Cruz de la Mota, an envelope of the Banco de Reservas containing 90 RD$2,000.00 bills, amounting to the sum of RD$180,000.00 were found.
Also as a silver-colored watch, Cartier Roster brand, a savings book of the Banco de Reservas in the name of Fausto Miguel de Jesus Cruz of No. 9604556490, No. 487823.
Also found were two passports with different numbers in his name. Also, a black briefcase over 90 bullets.
The Jorge Mera and Jorge Villegas family members say they pardon Cruz. Yet, President Luis Abinader said that he hopes that God will pardon Cruz.
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8 June 2022