Lawyer Luis Miguel Pereyra concurred that former President Hipolito Mejia should be questioned regarding the RD$1-billion fraud case pending against the state in connection with Plan Renove. Speaking on the D’Agenda TV show that is produced by Hector Herrera Cabral on Channel 11, Pereyra agreed with those who have said that since former Interior & Police Minister Pedro Franco Badia stated in El Caribe newspaper that he was only following the orders of his superior, then-President Hipolito Mejia, it is only logical that Mejia should be called on to answer questions regarding the case.
Nevertheless, in an interview with the Listin Diario, Pereyra said that Franco Badia’s statement that he merely followed orders does not absolve him for carrying out instructions that violated the law. Pereyra’s legal opinion is that the only government employees who must follow the orders of the President without any kind of objection are the military, with the exception of being asked to kill someone, a request they are entitled to deny.
Lawyer Vinicio Castillo Seman, who has had a high profile recently for being part of the legal counsel for Ramon Baez Figueroa of the collapsed Baninter bank, told the Listin Diario that the ongoing investigations are aiming the responsibility at President Hipolito Mejia and his “compadre” (close friend or godfather to one of his children) Johnny Morales as the main economic beneficiaries of the plan. Castillo said the evidence warrants that the President be accused as one of the principal players involved in the Plan Renove transport program fraud.
“Johnny Morales was the key individual to handle the deals and the man that met with Mejia on a daily basis,” said Castillo, as reported in the Listin.
Over the weekend, businessman Johnny Morales said he would sue District Attorney Jose Manuel Hernandez and the director of Depreco, Octavio Lister, if proof was not presented of his alleged involvement in the billionaire scam in 24 hours. Lister told El Caribe that he would establish in court that Morales is the real owner of Hyundai Americas Corporation, which Lister described as “a ghost company” that was awarded without tender the purchase of vehicles and equipment under the Plan Renove.
Meanwhile, Diario Libre reports today that the extradition of the supposed front man of Hyundai Americas Corporation, Shlomo Ben Tob (alias Sam Goodson), from the United States could happen sooner rather than later. The newspaper says there is a tax information sharing treaty dating back to 7 August 1989 that could apply to this case.
Morales’s lawyers appealed the judge’s decision that put their client under domiciliary arrest. Radhames Cornielle, Eric Raful and Joaquin Zapata said last week that the Attorney General’s charges against the defendant were filed despite the absence of Morales’s name in both the audit that was conducted by the Chamber of Accounts and by another performed by the General Controller’s office and originally released in early 2004. These investigations are serving as a base for the case’s preparation.
District Attorney Hernandez responded that the law establishes he has three months to prepare the case and will not be intimidated by the defense bar.