The First Collegiate Court of the National District is scheduled to hear the final remarks of the remaining six that are accused of taking bribes from the Odebrecht construction company to expedite works in the Dominican Republic. Afterwards, the judges Gisselle Mendez, Tania Yunes and Gisselle Soto will deliberate and decide. A ruling could be had by 7 October. The regulations establish that the judges need to issue their ruling in 10 days and in 20 days release the complete sentence with their opinions.
Prosecutors have requested 10 years in jail for Odebrecht commercial representative Angel Rondon and former Minister of Public Works Victor Diaz Rua. Prosecutors have asked the court for seven years in jail for lawyer Conrado Pittaluga and five years in jail for former president of the Senate Andres Bautista and senator Tommy Galan and for Roberto Rodríguez, who was the director of the dams agency (Indrhi).
The prosecutors also have requested a penalty of 200 minimum public wages and the seizing of billions in bank assets and property.
The defense says that the accused should be released because the charges against them have expired and the evidence presented violates the law.
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El Dia
27 September 2021