Another questioned ruling; Judge releases a ‘public enemy’

Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Francisco Dominguez on Tuesdaycalled as reckless and worrisome a judge’s ruling of house arrest against Pascual Cordero Martinez"El Chino" who until his arrest last week was one of the country’smost wanted fugitives.

He said the ruling handed down by National District 4thAppellate Court judge Pilar Rufino will be appealed, because Cordero is chargedwith being Greater Santo Domingo’s “top drug trafficker,” and will present evidenceof a long history of homicides by organized crime. “We are talking about a extremelydangerous person for the entire Dominican society."

Dominguez stressed the extensive work by security agenciesto catch Cordero, who was on the list of Dominican Republic’s most wantedfelons. "We worked hard on his capture. We’re struggling to fullydismantle his ring and we will not allow drug traffickers to get away with it, neitherin this case nor any other."