The Attorney General Office prosecution arm, the Public Ministry has requested a five-year prison sentence for professional baseball player Wander Samuel Franco Aybar, who is on trial for the alleged sexual abuse of a then 14-year old minor.
In addition, prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence for the teenager’s mother, who is a co-defendant in the case. She is facing charges of child sexual exploitation and money laundering.
The request was made during the ongoing trial at the Puerto Plata Collegiate Court, where the prosecution presented 165 pieces of evidence, which they argue are sufficient for a guilty verdict against both defendants.
Franco Aybar is accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with the minor. Prosecutors have requested that he serve his sentence at the San Felipe Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR) in Puerto Plata. They also seek a fine equivalent to ten times the national minimum wage, as set by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, in addition to covering all court costs.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother is alleged to have facilitated the exploitation of her daughter and laundered proceeds from the alleged crimes. The Public Ministry is requesting she be imprisoned at Rafey Mujeres Correctional Center in Santiago and fined 30 times the minimum wage.
In addition to the prison sentence and financial penalties, prosecutors have asked the court to seize seven assets linked to the accused mother. These include a 600-square-meter property in Villa Montellano, a 2023 vehicle, RD$2.1 million held at the Agricultural Bank of the Dominican Republic, US$68,500 in cash, and RD$800,000. Authorities are also seeking the forfeiture of mobile devices and all funds frozen in her bank accounts under judicial order.
The case is being prosecuted by Claudio Cordero and José Martínez, representing the Specialized Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Puerto Plata Prosecutor’s Office. The panel of judges hearing the case includes Jakayra Veras, Venecia Rojas, and José Juan Jiménez.
According to prosecutors, the evidence confirms the involvement of both defendants in the alleged crimes. The charges are based on violations of multiple laws, including the Code for the Protection and Fundamental Rights of Children and Adolescents (Law 136-03), the Dominican Penal Code, the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act (Law 137-03), and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act (Law 155-17).
The trial is currently continuing with the defense teams presenting their final arguments.
Franco’s lawyer Irina Ventura, has asked for the acquittal of her client, arguing there is no concluding evidence that ties him to the accusations.
The judge hearing the case could issue her opinion this coming Thursday, 26 June 2025.
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PGR
Diario Libre
24 June 2025