2010 – Page 321

The government hiked up fuel prices over the New Year holidays. On 31 December, Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced an RD$8.20 increase in the price of premium gasoline that now costs RD$160. Regular gasoline was up RD$7.90 and now sells for RD$150.70. Premium diesel was increased RD$7.60 to RD$136.70 and regular diesel goes for …

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The director of the Department for the Prosecution of Corruption (DPCA) Hotoniel Bonilla Garcia has criticized the lack of transparency of government officials and the fact that the penal justice system is only for the weak in the DR. Bonilla Garcia said he is concerned about the fact that the justice system has been incapable …

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German Miranda Villalona, director of the Anti-laundering Unit at the Prosecutor General’s Office has warned that drug trafficking has permeated all the state’s security and intelligence organizations. Senator Wilton Guerrero initially denounced the situation 2 years ago, in the wake of the Paya killings. Now Miranda Villalona is accusing the authorities of complicity that enabled …

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Over the holidays, more details were made public on the case against Puerto Rican fugitive Jose David Figueroa Agosto, and that of murdered 37-year old former Police colonel Jose Amado Gonzalez Gonzalez. Gonzalez Gonzalez was murdered on 24 December. El Dia quotes National Police sources that indicate that Gonzalez Gonzalez had been forcibly retired along …

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El Dia reports that the SUV with the US$4.6 million suspected drug money stashed by Puerto Rican fugitive Jose David Figueroa Agosto was the same armored vehicle used to transport President Uribe of Colombia when he visited the DR in 2008. Auto Ozama, the Mercedes Benz dealership in the DR, confirmed that the Mercedes Benz …

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A caller to the popular Z101 El Gobierno de la Manana talk show identified himself as Jose Figueroa Agosto on Wednesday, 30 December and denounced Colonel Miguel Angel Sanchez Martinez, Santos Manuel Diaz Medina and Colonel Elvis Florencio Soriano Familia of the Police, accusing them of responsibility for the death of former police colonel Jose …

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Evangelical preacher Ezequiel Molina has suggested legalizing drug trafficking in a new bid to reduce its hold on Dominican society. The preacher was addressing a packed congregation at the Olympic Stadium on 1 January and speculated that the legalization of drug trafficking could prevent bloodshed and reduce crime. “And I ask and you will too, …

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The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported 28 deaths over the New Year long weekend. Of these, 26 died in traffic accidents and 2 of alcohol poisoning, according to COE director General Juan Manuel Mendez. A further 237 people were involved in traffic accidents, 58 suffered the effects of alcohol poisoning and 15 were victims of …

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The Prosecutor General Office has sent Edwin Baquero to jail in Azua for 3 months preventive custody for forging of property titles. Also jailed were Police Lieutenant Colonel Luis Emilio Gutierrez, on one million pesos bail and Luis Emilio Gutierrez for RD$50,000. Edwin Sanchez, Carlos Vasquez, Henry Melenciano, Oliver Fiallo, Walter Lendor and Jovanny Santana …

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Legendary musician and comedian Luisito Marti has died at the age of 65. He passed away at the Center for Diagnostics, Advanced Medicine, Laboratory and Telemedicine (CEDIMAT) at 7:40pm on 3 January after being admitted on Christmas Eve upon his return from Mexico. Marti, who had been fighting stomach cancer since 2007, was best known …

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