The controversial case of a 31-level tower that was under construction without the adequate permissions was sent to be retried by a municipal court. The Torre de Plata had moved through the judicial system to the point where the Supreme Court ordered the construction to stop. Appeals were also won by the neighborhood groups that opposed the development of the tower in a residential area.
The tower is located next door to the Dominican Fiesta Hotel. The court had ordered the demolition of the construction because the construction practically kidnapped two city streets.
But now the Supreme Court is annulling all the procedures and sending the trial to be retried by a municipal court where there is only an interim judge. The National Council of the Magistracy recently made an overhaul to the Supreme Court that is now under a new president.
Neighborhood groups now suspect that powerful interests have permeated the judiciary, now that new judges were named. Lawyer Miriam Paulino, who has carried the case for the neighborhood groups, said that justice has taken steps backward in the process.
In the announcement calling for the case to be heard by the municipal court, the tower defendants argue that the affected parties were not heard. Lawyer Paulino says that the parties went all the way through the appeals system, proving they were present.
The lawyer says that there are no new elements in the case and thus have requested that the Constitutional Court annul the order to restart the case arguing the retrial violates the Constitution.
She explained that instead of the retrial, efforts should be on securing the demolition. She said the delay in the demolition has been because of the red tape involved and the cost.
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4 July 2019