Ruling boosts Dominican Republic’s ‘culture of impunity’

Santo Domingo.- As many sectors expected, special Supreme Court judge Frank Soto Tuesday night ruled to lifting the liens on assets of the real estate company Rofi , at the center of the embezzlement case against senator and ruling PLD party senor member, Felix Bautista.

"We’re leaving to our children a culture of impunity and we have no right to create scenarios that will lead future generations to pay the consequences of our irresponsibility," said Justice minister Francisco Dominguez after learning of the ruling.

Many sectors in Dominican society expected Soto’s ruling, given the judge’s past membership in the PLD and the fact that he didn’t step aside from hearing the controversial case despite the prosecution’s challenge to his impartiality.

Soto ruled that the prosecution violated the lawmaker’s right to ownership and for the defense’s request to lift the liens on properties of Rolfi, in which Bautista is the realtor’s main shareholder and third party acquirer.

The 29- page ruling orders Santiago’s Land Court to lift the liens notified on February 14by the Justice Ministry on Rofi’s 77 properties in that city and 35 in the National District.