In an open letter to the nation published on Friday, 2 June 2017, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Juan Temístocles Montas, has sought to clear himself of responsibility from the Odebrecht projects. In turn, Montas provides names of those he says were responsible for the contract of the public works in question and the financial terms of the funding.
Of those on his list, Mariano Germán, Gonzalo Castillo, Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Daniel Toribio, Simon Lizardo have not been included in the Odebrecht accusations.
On his list are:
Palomino Hydroelectric:
Public work contract:
Radhames Segura, executive vice president of the CDEEE
Public work financing contract
Juan Temístocles Montas (2005) US$15,000,000.
Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Secretary of Hacienda, (2006-2010), US$3,149,877.56
Samana/Hermanas Mirabal Aqueduct:
Public work contract:
Victor Díaz Rúa, director INAPA (2006-2007)
Mariano Germán, director INAPA (2009-2011)
Public work financing contract:
Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Secretary of Finance (2006), US$45,100,000.
Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Secretary of Finance (2009), US$71,258,178, US$50,286,572
Daniel Toribio, Secretary of Hacienda (2011), US$50,000,000
Autopista del Coral/Circunvalación La Romana:
Public work contract:
Victor Diaz Rua, Minister of Public Works (2010-2012)
Gonzalo Castillo, Minister of Public Works (2013)
Public work financing contract:
Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Minister of Hacienda (2010) US$54,000,000
Daniel Toribio, Minister of Hacienda (2011) US$70,000,000, US$38,557,200
Simón Lizardo, Minister of Hacienda (2013) US$80,200,000
Corredor Duarte I:
Public work contract:
Victor Díaz Rua, Minister of Public Works (2009-2010)
Public work financing contract:
Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Secretary of Hacienda (2009-2010), US$40,743,918, US$52,785,122
Constanza road:
Public work contract:
Victor Diaz Rua, Secretary of Public Works (2009)
Public work financing contract:
Vicente Bengoa Albizu (2009), US$20,000,000
Jarabacoa-Río road
Public work contract:
Victor Diaz Rua, Minister of Public Works (2011)
Public work financing contract:
Daniel Toribio, Minister of Hacienda (2009) US$50,000,000
Former Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa called the statements by Montas “maliciously perverse.”
Also on the same subject, award-winning writer Juan Bolivar Diaz reiterates the weaknesses of the case laid out by the Attorney General and predicts the likelihood of many more individuals to be implicated in the scandal.
However, Diaz is not optimistic the case against those accepting Odebrecht bribes will get far. “Most of the 14 accused could go free if the case against them lacks tangible evidence beyond noting an increase in the wealth of the individuals over the years…” Diaz speculates that those implicated in the scandal could be convicted of falsifying their wealth statements, but he admits that thousands of government officers have done the same.
5 June 2017
