Supreme Court of Justice judge Francisco Antonio Ortega Polanco was appointed to prepare the cases against individuals accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht construction company in the Dominican Republic from 2001-2014. Documents from judicial proceedings in a New York Court brought to light the role of the company in the scandal in the Dominican Republic.
The Diario Libre article that leaked the news about the appointment explained that Ortega is expected to hear the cases that are likely to include senators or deputies that have judicial privilege. The contracts were approved in Congress – and as such, specific legislators may have accepted bribes from Odebrecht.
The Odebrecht construction scandal spans different administrations, from former presidents Hipólito Mejía (2000-2004) and Leonel Fernandez (2004-2008, 2008-2012) to President Danilo Medina (2012-2016).
Noticias Sin reports that Ortega at 48 years of age is the youngest of the Supreme Court of Justice and is a career judge. SIN reports he was born in Salcedo and graduated in law with honors from the UNPHU in 1993. He has carried out several graduate studies abroad, including a master’s from the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. He taught law at PUCMM, UNIBE and UNPHU.
He was assistant to the Attorney General in 1995, adjunct attorney general of the National District from 1996-1998 and case preparation judge of the National District from 1998-2001. As president of the penal hall of the First Instance Court of the National District he decided on the PEME corruption case. He is the author of the reference book “Codigo Procesal Penal por un juez en ejercicio” where he reviews the penal code from his perspective as a practicing judge.
In an editorial on Monday, 29 May 2017, Diario Libre speaks highly of Ortega. “If there is someone prepared in criminal matters in this country, it is Francisco Ortega who also has been a journalist and knows, thus, the scope and the implications of the case placed in his hands,” writes Adriano Miguel Tejada in the editorial. The editorialist points out that on the positive side, the documents that will be used in the Dominican case can be compared to those coming from Brazil and the United States. “It is going to be very difficult for someone mentioned in those files to walk out the big door in justice here,” he writes.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
29 May 2017
