SANTO DOMINGO.- The General comptroller Simón Lizardo on Tuesday instructed a team to investigate the alleged overvaluation of the Monet Grande dam, whereas the contractor Andrade Gutiérrez prepares to defend itself from the denunciation by Ethics Committee president Marino Vinicio Castillo.

The latest scandal involves, Héctor Rodriguez Pimentel, until recently the director of the National Hydraulic Resources Institute (Indrhi), a leader of the opposition PRSC party and an ally President Leonel Fernandez, who despite his past history, designate him head of the Agrarian Reform Institute (IAD).

Meanwhile Anti-Corruption Department director Hotoniel Bonilla also announced a probe into the alleged irregularities committed during Rodriguez Pimentel’s tenure in the Indrhi.

He said the investigation is already in the document and information retrieval process. “When it’s necessary to listen to the suspects, we’ll call him."

Fernandez ordered the investigation on Monday after Castillo revealed an alleged US$28 million in ballooned costs by the beneficiary company for the dam’s designs.

A source told newspaper Diario Libre that the Brazilian company Andrade Gutiérrez affirms that Castillo’s denunciation is based on false data, and would refute it once its executives arrive between today and tomorrow.

On Sunday Rodriguez Pimentel refused to talk with reporters on the allegation, whereas Indrhi’s current director, Frank Rodriguez, is abroad.

Scandals

In addition to Monte Grande, Rodriguez Pimentel has been involved in other denunciations of corruption such as using the fuel from Indrhi’s pumps during Fernandez’s reelection campaign, nepotism, irregularities of RD$340 million; contracts without bids; payrolls ballooned with advisers and politicians, and other overvaluations as high as 200%, going from RD$115 million to RD$365 million.