Top prosecutor announces investigation of judge ´took bribe´

Santo Domingo.- Justiceminister Francisco Dominguez on Tuesday announced the launch of a criminal investigationagainst National District judge Awilda Reyes, who allegedly admitted taking abribe to release Pedro Brand City councilman Erickson Santos Solis, indictedfor the murder of several public transport drivers.

He said a team ofprosecutors would present their conclusions of the probe, but didn’t specify ifhe´ll request pretrial detention against Reyes, who was suspended as judge ofthe National District 4th Penal Chamber.

Speaking after signingan agreement through which the Justice Ministry can use the Customs Agency´slabs in investigations, Dominguez noted that Supreme Court chief justiceMariano German´s assertion that Reyes admitted taking a bribe to release Santos,provides important data, “of which the Justice Ministry took note."