Judge Esther Agelan Casasnovas rejected questioning former presidential security advisor, Colonel Pedro Julio Goico (Pepe Goico) because this would delay the Hernani Salazar vs. Marino Vinicio (Vincho) Castillo libel case for more than 10 days, as Goico is abroad. She did accept the request by Vincho Castillo’s defense that Salazar’s associate Jose Ramon Lopez Reyes (Nino Lopez), return for questioning. She said that the process that has lasted for more than 95 hours would be postponed until Monday, 6 June at 10 am.
Yesterday, the court received 39 documents that back up the defendants’ case. The documents included evidence that sustains the statements made by Castillo linking Salazar to Bladimir Garcia, the case relating Bladimir Garcia with the construction of sports installations using Venezuelan-San Jose Agreement funds, the case of Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, and the alleged ties between Hernani Salazar and the purchase of the Colibri helicopter. They also presented newspaper clippings showing a photograph of former President Hipolito Mejia with Bladimir Garcia, who is standing trial in the US for drug trafficking together with Paulino Castillo. Also presented were proof of checks for the purchase of the Colibri helicopter and a receipt for US$600,000 for its purchase made out in the name of Jose Ramon Lopez, Hernani Salazar’s aide. During the debates, it was established that the first payment for the helicopter was made with checks drafted on the account of Jose Ramon Lopez, but the second payment was made in cash paid during a transaction carried out at the base of the First Brigade of the National Army.
Hernani Salazar’s counsel, Jorge Luis Polanco understands that Vincho Castillo’s defense has not presented any kind of proof that actually links his client, Hernani Salazar, with Bladimir Garcia, president of Construgar, which is the essence of the libel suit.