At 7:40pm, on Friday, 2 September 2022, the Prisons Agency staff transferred to their respective homes the accused in the Anti-Octopus Operation. The brother of former President Danilo Medina, Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez, his brother-in-law, Fernando Rosa, and two others accused of administrative corruption, Wacal Vernavel Méndez and José Dolores Santana, were favored on Monday, 29 August 2022 with the variation of the order for them to await their trial at Najayo Jail.
Judge Deiby Timoteo Peguero, of the Seventh Court of Instruction of the National District, authorized that the accused be allowed to post bail and await the trial under electronic shackles at their home.
The defense argued that the 18-months preventive trial term had ended and legally could not be extended. The delays in the hearing in this case have primarily been due to delays requested by the defense itself. Thousands of other less privileged Dominican prisoners continue in jail after the expiry of their preventive measures.
During the hearing, Juan Alexis Medina Sanchez criticized the public prosecutors for keeping him and others accused in the Anti-Pulpo case in jail.
Medina Sanchez criticized the case was put together taking from his dealings with various government institutions. Then he said: “The saddest moment I have ever seen in my life, is to see when they put handcuffs on my sister who now has to wear an electronic ankle shackle.”
Magaly Medina Sanchez, sister to Juan Alexis Medina Sanchez and former President Danilo Medina Sanchez, served in government as the deputy director at the government agency, Fonper. Earlier, the judge for the pre-trial custody conditions had authorized her to post bail and domiciliary arrest.
Juan Alexis Medina Sanchez defended his sister saying she had nothing to do with the AntiPulpo case. Then, he blasted the chief anti-corruption prosecutor, Wilson Camacho to his left in court. Looking at Camacho he stated: “There is an adage: When it’s your turn to be a whip, be careful, there will come a time when it’s your turn to be a back.”
The remark was objected by Camacho, who stood up and said: “not with threats.”
Medina Sanchez would later openly disregard the judge as he freely continued blasting the prosecution in court.
Medina Sanchez and his sister are accused of using their family ties with former President Medina to profiteer from the state.
Several influential media, including Huchi Lora and Somos Pueblo, highlighted the moment during the pre-trial revision when Medina Sanchez blasted the prosecutors.
Ironically, one of the corruption networks for which Juan Alexis Medina Sanchez is accused, had received the exclusive rights to the electronic shackles company used by the Attorney General Office.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Somos Pueblo
Huchi Lora – Esta Misma Semana
5 September 2022