Shlomo Ben-tov (Sam Goodson), Gervasio de la Rosa, Alfredo Pulinario Linares (Cambita) (2nd row), Fabio Ruiz. File photo.
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SANTO DOMINGO.- A former Interior and Police minister, a transport union leader, a former priest and even a former official sentenced for embezzling RD$1.8 billion in the Plan Renove case, turned themselves into the authorities today, in the most sweeping case of government corruption ever prosecuted in Dominican history.
Former Interior and Police minister Pedro Franco Badía, the transport union leader Francisco Antonio Perez, the former priest Paulino Antonio Reynoso (Padre Toño) and Gervasio de la Rosa began to serve their prison terms starting today.
Franco, sentenced to spend three years in prison and fined 15 million pesos, appeared in the Corruption Prevention Department, where assistant prosecutor Otoniel Bonilla sent him before National District sentencing judge Saulo I. Diaz.
Perez, condemned to six months house arrest, also appeared before judge Diaz, to begin serving his sentence, whereas Reynoso was also ordered to begin his two-year prison term this morning.
The union leader of Santiago (north), Gervasio de la Rosa, appeared this morning before sentencing judge Rubén D. UIceta Cruz, of Santiago, to begin serving his two-year prison sentence and pay the 3 million peso fine.
Yesterday former Plan Renove president Fabio Ruiz appeared before the National District Prosecutor’s Office to begin a 4-year prison term and pay a RD$4 million fine.
Other convicts and one extradition
Also convicted in the case was Milcíades Amaro Guzmán, to 3 years in prison and a 5 million peso fine; Antonio Marte, 3 years in prison and a fine of 8 million, and Alfredo Pulinario Linares (Cambita), to 6 months house arrest.
Today DPC director Octavio Lister said he’ll renew the request to extradite the Israeli-born Shlomo Ben-tov, known as Sam Goodson, from the United States, on charges he overpriced the vehicles purchased in the Plan Renove scandal.
Written by: lovingit, 13 Mar 2008 3:48 PM
From: United States, Delaware
Let there be law,
Let there be orginization,
Let there be respect,
Let there be a prosperous nation.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
"True Justice move sometimes slowly,but exceedingly fine".
Some could say that, in this case, some modicum of justice has been served,
The real perpetrator, Hipolito Mejia, Ex-Presidente of the DR, is the one, so far, who has escaped justice. Maybe soon?
Sooner would be better.
TB
Written by: juanb, 13 Mar 2008 4:15 PM
From: Dominican Republic
It's a wonderful thing that the PLD has seen fit to go after the people who stole our money under the previous administration. Now I would like to see them persue, with the same effort, the people of the current administration who are stealing our money.
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
juan b ....well said.....also Banninter and the other crooks who shall remain nameless....STRING EM UP AND HIGH
From: United States
Excellent job. You should be a proud Dominican today. Feels good.
Now do you think you can keep them there?
Hipolito Mejia next !
Written by: Edward, 14 Mar 2008 1:20 PM
From: United States, Faux News: Unfair Imbalance
Finally they are doing something about these corrupt ladrones!!!
Written by: e_sealey, 14 Mar 2008 1:43 PM
From: United States, Florida
This is amazing. As an outsider looking into this calamity of justice let us look at the facts from the article posted March 13, 2008.
Total embezzlement is RD$1.8 billion that is I asume is correct from the article.
Now let us look at the key players:
1) Franco, sentenced to spend three years in prison and fined 15 million pesos.
2) Perez, condemned to six months house arrest, also appeared before judge Diaz, to begin serving his sentence, whereas
3) Reynoso was ordered to begin his two-year prison term this morning
4) The union leader of Santiago (north), Gervasio de la Rosa, appeared before sentencing judge Rubén D. UIceta Cruz, of Santiago, to begin serving his two-year prison sentence and pay the 3 million peso fine.
5) Fabio Ruiz appeared before the National District Prosecutor’s Office to begin a 4-year prison term and pay a RD$4 million fine.
You get my drift. .......no need to list the others .....
Written by: e_sealey, 14 Mar 2008 1:44 PM
From: United States, Florida
CONTINUED from previous comment
Now let us do the math...Add up the total amount of jail time plus the fine handed out by these
judges and see who is ahead of the game. The message sent to the Dominican society is that
white collar crime is A OK with a little slap on the wrist. The prize of 1.8 billion $RD went into their
pockets and their payout is a little jail time plus an insignificant fine; and when released it's
business as usual. You make the call. is this Justice? Now who has the last laugh???
From: United States, FEEL THE RUSH...RIDE YOUR MTB!
People this is only a recycle of DR Justice. The next ruling party will be putting away a couple of the current ruling leaders in a few of more years.
It is already in grained in the political system to keep robbing from the common people, no matter which party.
Lets go Client No #9.
Written by: Edward, 14 Mar 2008 7:56 PM
From: United States, Faux News: Unfair Imbalance
I don't agree with the light sentences, but hey it's a start!
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
yes it is" better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick"
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Let there be orginization,
Let there be respect,
Let there be a prosperous nation.
Some could say that, in this case, some modicum of justice has been served,
The real perpetrator, Hipolito Mejia, Ex-Presidente of the DR, is the one, so far, who has escaped justice. Maybe soon?
Sooner would be better.
TB
Now do you think you can keep them there?
Hipolito Mejia next !
Total embezzlement is RD$1.8 billion that is I asume is correct from the article.
Now let us look at the key players:
1) Franco, sentenced to spend three years in prison and fined 15 million pesos.
2) Perez, condemned to six months house arrest, also appeared before judge Diaz, to begin serving his sentence, whereas
3) Reynoso was ordered to begin his two-year prison term this morning
4) The union leader of Santiago (north), Gervasio de la Rosa, appeared before sentencing judge Rubén D. UIceta Cruz, of Santiago, to begin serving his two-year prison sentence and pay the 3 million peso fine.
5) Fabio Ruiz appeared before the National District Prosecutor’s Office to begin a 4-year prison term and pay a RD$4 million fine.
You get my drift. .......no need to list the others .....
Now let us do the math...Add up the total amount of jail time plus the fine handed out by these
judges and see who is ahead of the game. The message sent to the Dominican society is that
white collar crime is A OK with a little slap on the wrist. The prize of 1.8 billion $RD went into their
pockets and their payout is a little jail time plus an insignificant fine; and when released it's
business as usual. You make the call. is this Justice? Now who has the last laugh???
It is already in grained in the political system to keep robbing from the common people, no matter which party.
Lets go Client No #9.