The Public Prosecutor’s Office arrested the owners of the Multi Muebles building on Las Carreras street corner Sanchez in La Vega city that collapsed on 18 January 2023 at around noon, resulting in the death of one employee and three others injured when they were trapped in the rubble along with other co-workers.
Jesús María Sánchez Lantigua and Jorge Alberto Rosario Marte were arrested by court order in one of their offices located on Pedro A. Rivera Avenue.
Chief prosecutor of La Vega Aura Luz García Martínez detailed that in the next 48 hours the two will be submitted to justice before the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services for involuntary manslaughter. 30-year old Yasiris Joaquín de Jesús was mortally injured during the collapse of the four story building. She did not make it alive out of the collapsed building.
The authorities point out that the evidence obtained during the course of the investigation makes it reasonable to presume that construction works were being carried out without the needed permits. Making matters worse, the renovations were carried out with employees inside the building.
The prosecutor file specifies that the accused did not observe the corresponding preventive measures, and thus committed an unlawful act which, although this was not carried out with malice. Nevertheless, due to the carelessness and non-application of the rules, their conduct is being treated as a crime of negligence punishable by the Penal Code that typifies involuntary manslaughter and involuntary blows or wounds.
The irregular renovations also violate Decree 670-2010, Regulation R-021, General Regulation of Buildings and Processing of Plans (Decree 576-06), Law 687-82, which creates a System for the Elaboration of Regulations, techniques for preparation and execution related to Engineering, Architecture and related branches, and Law 62-00 on the Practice of Engineering, Architecture and Surveying and related Professions.
In another development in the story, 22-year old Jessica Bueno was released from Professor Juan Bosch Trauma Hospital after 14 days to recover from her wounds. She was rescued from the rubble hours after the collapse of the four-story structure furniture and appliance store.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
El Dia
15 September 2023