The Judicial Branch has overturned the sentence that had acquitted Venezuelan national Karla María Moya of charges related to impersonating a medical doctor and has ordered a new trial. The decision was made to reconsider the evidence supporting the accusation.
Last August 2024, Moya was cleared of charges that she had been pretending to be a doctor without a license. However, the Public Ministry appealed the acquittal and successfully secured a new hearing.
The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeals in the National District nullified Moya’s acquittal and ordered a retrial “for a new evaluation of all the evidence presented, for the reasons stated” in the original sentence.
Consequently, the Presidency of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in the National District will assign a different judge to handle the case, as per Article 423 of the Criminal Procedural Code.
Moya’s case gained public attention after an investigative report by N Investiga aired in which Moya appears in medical attire and performing liposuction procedures. This prompted serious accusations that she had been illegally practicing medicine as a self-proclaimed “aesthetic doctor” without the necessary qualifications.
Nuria Piera showed evidence that Moya did not have a medical degree from Venezuela nor was authorized to practice medicine in the Dominican Republic. Piera showed a photo of Moya Boada with her diploma in surgery from the Central University of Venezuela in the background, but the university said they have no record of Moya Boada carrying out medical studies at the center.
Piera ascertained that Moya Boada had deposited a photocopy of her title in the Ministry of Superior Education, but when to complete the registration process, she was asked to bring an original with apostille, she never did so.
Making matters worse, Piera said that Moya Boada irregularly used the exequatur of general surgeon Yamile Genara Diplan Vásquez, exequatur 256-16, for the medical prescriptions.
Following the exposure of Moya’s activities, the Ministry of Public Health shut down “Ki Centro Médico Integral del Caribe,” where she had been working, due to violations of the General Health Law.
The case will now return to the courts for further proceedings. National District Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos is in charge of the case for the Public Ministry.
11 March 2025