National District prosecutor wants judge’s charges dropped

Santo Domingo.- National District prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso on Wednesday asked the Appellate Court to dismiss the contempt of court charges filed against her by Instruction judge Margarita Cristo during hearing on May 26, in the embezzlement case against former Public Works minister Víctor Díaz Rúa

She said the Criminal Procedural Code provides for acquittal “when the allegation doesn’t constitute a criminal offense."

Cristo has asked the court to subpoena Diaz’s lawyers, who were in the courtroom when the alleged contempt took place.

Several court officials have already been questioned in connection with the incident during the hearing, where among other allegations, Reynoso said Cristo took a US$2.0 million bribe from Puerto Rican kingpin Jose D. Figueroa Agosto.