2015 – Page 257

The National Business Council (Conep) is expressing concern at the “crisis of confidence affecting the Judicial Branch.” The leading business group says that widespread public questioning of decisions by the Dominican courts is affecting public confidence in the country’s institutions and the Dominican state. “This worsens when the perception is that the administration of justice …

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Yesterday, Monday 6 April 2015, the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Administrative Corruption (Pepca) appealed the ruling issued by the Supreme Court of Justice that prevented the corruption and asset laundering accusations against rags-to-riches senator Felix Bautista from proceeding to trial. Office director Laura Guerrero presented the appeal request. The 601-page file was delivered to Supreme …

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Yesterday, Monday, 6 April 2015, the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Administrative Corruption (Pepca) appealed the Supreme Court decision that exonerates the mayor of San Francisco de Macoris, Felix Manuel Rodriguez Grullon and another three people accused of fraud against the city government for over RD$400 million, of any penal responsibility. The legal recourse for appeal …

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In its editorial yesterday, Monday 6 April 2015, Diario Libre was the first to comment on the large number of politicians who are seeking office in the May 2016 presidential, legislative and municipal elections but are campaigning with large posters and billboards in public spaces without the backing of a political party. Under Dominican electoral …

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Dominican bishops will be in Rome from 26 May to 8 June 2015 for meetings with Pope Francis as part of their “ad limina” visit to the Vatican. After a joint meeting, Pope Francis will see each of the bishops in private. The bishops are expected to report on their jurisdiction. The last “ad limina” …

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The Superintendence of Banks is investigating 13 of its own officials in relation to the collapse of Banco Peravia. The prosecutors want to know why the officials in charge of monitoring the bank’s operations did not report any irregularities. Socorro Minerva de la Cruz, Mario Jose Marrero Gonzalez, Cristina de la Ruz, Maria Valdez, Esther …

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The coordinator of the civil society watchdog group Participacion Ciudadana, Candido Mercedes has described the wage increases for the members of the Constitutional and Higher Electoral Courts as illegal and illegitimate. Mercedes called for the Ministry of Public Administration to control this kind of decision that he says is in violation of Law No. 105-13 …

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Contraband rum from Haiti is gaining market share in the Dominican Republic. Listin Diario reports that sales of new brands have increased fivefold in recent years. Many are smuggled into the country or irregularly manufactured locally and are therefore cheaper since they have not paid taxes. 60% of the price of a bottle of local …

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14 non-governmental organizations meeting in Port-au-Prince last week have blamed the Haitian authorities under President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Evans Paul for the problems that Haitians have encountered when applying to regularize their status in the Dominican Republic in the framework of the National Foreigner Legalization Plan that expires on 15 June 2015. They …

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The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) reports the arrest of an unnamed Puerto Rican for attempting to smuggle 22 packages of a substance believed to be cocaine or heroin hidden inside the gasoline tank of a vehicle en route to Puerto Rico. DNCD Joint Information and Coordination Center (CICC) officers discovered the packages during a …

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