Judge Vicky Chalas has postponed until next week the hearing on whether to remand to custody the persons accused of facilitating the landing of a private aircraft with some 500 kilos of cocaine at the La Romana International Airport.
What makes the case interesting is that most, if not all, of the accused are former high-ranking members of the Dominican Armed Force: Colonel Domingo Cruz Figuereo Heredia of the Air Force; Colonel Roberto Antonio Ramirez Pimentel of the Army; former Lt. Andres Lorenzo Castillo Padilla of the Police, and a former reclute in the Army, Emmanuel Cruz Espinal.
The accused were taken into the court under extreme precautionary measures. Lawyers for the defense argued that they needed more time to prepare their case. The Justice Department is trying to have the case declared to be “complex” that would extend the time for investigations. The authorities are also asking for an 18-month ruling for remand to custody for the accused.
The Dominican Attorney General announced the arrest of the four persons after several warrants and searches were carried out in the residences of the accused. The aircraft, coming from Colombia, carried in excess of 500 kilos of cocaine.
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Diario Libre
18 January 2018
