The Supreme Court of Justice ordered that deputy Radhames Ramos Garcia (PRD La Vega) spend 18 months in jail for violation of Law 344-98 on people smuggling. He will be sent to Najayo jail. Orientals Chen Ngow Chai and Ng Choon Seng were discharged for having already served their sentence while awaiting the Supreme Court decision. The attorney general had requested that money confiscated from these following their arrest be used for their deportation.
His case was heard by the Supreme Court because of his status as a legislator. Ramos Garcia complained that he was a political victim. People smuggling over the border with Haiti is common and Ramos Garcia has accused those that seek his post in Congress of promoting his penalization. The end of his jail coincides with the end of his term in congress.
Ramos was accused of trafficking with 16 Asian citizens when he was consul in Cap Haitian. While in jail, he finagled to be sworn in as a legislator in order to skirt ordinary justice. He was arrested in June 2002, shortly after having won a deputy congressional seat in the May 2002 election.
News reports say that the jail sentence came as a surprise to the deputy.