The femicide of 25-year old Chantal Jimenez by her spouse, 35-year old Jensy Graciano Cepeda has placed the attention again on the professional capacity and commitment of prosecutors in the Dominican Republic. Graciano Cepeda would commit suicide after the murder.
The case is now under investigation. As reported, Public Ministry inspector Jose Vitervo Enrique Cabral Gonzalez interviewed prosecutors Edward Lopez, Nancy Abreu and Altagracia Brache Gomez to determine the proceedings carried out in the case.
What is apparent is that the protocols, rules and laws were violated when the Public Ministry returned a firearm to Graciano after he had been arrested for firing shots at his spouse. The first incident with the firearm occurred on 5 April 2023. Jimenez would be murdered on 8 April 2023 with a shot from the same firearm.
Regarding firearms, the rules specify that all firearms must be retained, regardless of their legal permit, when they are in possession of a person accused of gender-based, intra-family and sexual violence, especially when this has been part of the violence or threat inflicted.
Somos Pueblo interviewed legal expert Reemberto Pichardo who pointed out that most of the prosecutors hired for political reasons during the presidency of Leonel Fernandez continue on the jobs despite demonstrating significant flaws in the exercise of their positions.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Somos Pueblo
12 April 2023