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Antonio Marte. File photo.
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SANTO DOMINGO. - Transport business leader Antonio Marte, convicted in the Plan Renove embezzlement case, insisted on his innocence and said everything regarding the RD$1.8 billion vehicle-purchase program was done on orders from then president Hipólito Mejía.

He showed a letter sent by Mejía to the Supreme Court (SCJ), where the former chief executive explains how Plan Renove was managed. "Hipólito handled all the money from the (National) Palace. “It was he who distributed it. I am going to request a revision of the sentence because that is not so. That decision surprised me, because I am innocent. I’ll jump head first from a building and even prefer dying from the disease from which I have if I have taken one penny from Plan Renove."

Marte, who’s the president of the union of bus owners grouped in Conatra, complained of the SCJ ruling upholding the three-year sentence and a RD$8 million fine.

Plan Renove was devised to buy public transport buses, but some of them ended up in the hands of government officials, Mejía’s collaborators and unionists linked to his PRD party.

Interviewed on Matinal 5, Marte said although the decision won’t lead to a transport strike, he’ll drape his buses with a black flag to protest the sentence.

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COMMENTS
7 comment(s)
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Written by: Edward, 6 Mar 2008 12:14 AM
From: United States, Leominster, Massachusetts
I wonder what they are waiting for to send the theif and liar Hipocrita Mejia to prison!
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Written by: bernies, 6 Mar 2008 11:36 AM
From: United States, falls church va
He is on the list just wait untill after the election when leonel wins again. he hipolito and some others will know the power of the justice system that is now changing with verdict.

We were waiting for something like this to happen. that's shows that the judges aren't not longer taking bribe. not that far but that will be a great day for this nation that so needed more than antyhing else. that way our tax money doesn't go in to does lying bastards.
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Written by: gmiller261, 6 Mar 2008 4:42 PM
From: United States

He should get three (3) more years just for being stupid.
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 7 Mar 2008 12:37 AM
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
string em up and high
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Written by: BLANCO, 7 Mar 2008 10:06 AM
From: Dominican Republic
AS VINCHO SAID...my advice to mejia would be to hire a good american attorney.......noreiga's suite is ready and mejia can wear the baseball cap with JEFE ON IT
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Written by: TexasBill, 7 Mar 2008 11:58 PM
From: Dominican Republic
As the then Head Of State, Hipolito shares the blame and the responsibility for the mismanagement of the Plan Renove fund allocation and the insuing malfeasence of the officials under his Administration.
All actions by his administrators and ministers are still his responsibility andas closely as he held his cards, he cannot claim ignorance of their actions.
It follows that he is as guilty of malfeasance in office as any other in his administration andshould not enoy any imunity waht-wo-ever.
That's the nature of high office holders and he is no different.
Charge him and try him before the highest court in the land, then when he is found guilty, as the REAL evidence will show, place him in the worst prison in the land and deny him any special treatment regardless of his previous position.
Remember, until he was cautioned by the international and local observers in the election, he intended to "steal" the re-election by illegal means.

TB
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 8 Mar 2008 10:49 AM
From: Canada, Toronto ,Cabbagetown,Parliament and Gerrard
who Hippo? steal? I am shocked ,shocked
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