State prosecutors continue to reach deals with several accused in major administrative corruption cases. Most of those accused have completed the jail time for the preventive custody period or have even had their electronic shackles removed as the cases have yet to be heard by a court. Meanwhile the state prosecutors move to reach deals.
Attorney general prosecutors continue the probes and talks with the accused have resulted in the restoration to the government of around RD$200 million in assets and cash in the Anti-Pulpo case that involves Juan Alexis Medina Sanchez, brother of President Danilo Medina Sanchez, as reported.
Juan Esteban Suriel Suazo admitted to being a partner in several companies of the main defendant in Antipulpo, Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez. Suriel Suazo is accused of being a frontman for Medina Sanchez. As reported, Suriel Suazo pleaded guilty in the cases of the companies Reivasapt Investment S.R.L. and Suhold Transporte y Logística. He agreed to return RD$2 million in cash and heavy equipment assessed at a worth of RD$3 million. He will also pay a cash fine of RD$200,000.
Lewin Ariel Castillo was the purchasing analyst of the Supply Management of EdeEste, also part of the Anti-Pulpo investigation. He declared himself guilty of charges by state prosecutors (Pepca) of being part of the association to commit a crime and admitted he was responsible for sending from his institutional mail the invitations to the companies to present the economic offers in the rigged bids in which Medina Sánchez’s companies allegedly benefited.
“I accept the accusation,” he admitted to the prosecutors and added: “I must faithfully say that I received the checks through the accused Julian Suriel and through the companies Globus Electrical and General Suply.” Suriel Suazo admitted receiving the payments to the judge approving the agreements that both reached with the prosecution.
The director of the now shut down Supervisory Engineering Office of the Presidency (OISOE), engineer Francisco Pagan has also reached a deal and returned more than RD$10 million in assets. Pagan is accused of association of criminals, fraud against the state, embezzlement, complicity in embezzlement, illicit financing of political campaigns, influence peddling and money laundering. Also, coalition of officials, influence peddling and falsification of public deeds, as well as falsification and omission in the sworn statement, illicit enrichment, prevarication, irregularities in payroll and serving as a front man.
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Diario Libre
17 January 2023