Tucanogate: General’s release sends a wrong signal

Santo Domingo.- Justice and Transparency Foundation (FJT) directorMiguel Angel Reyes on Friday said Justice minister Jean Alain Rodriguez, iscompelled to set a precedent in the Tucanogate scandal.

He said the release of businessmen Daniel Aquino Mendez and his son Daniel Aquino Hernandez and former defense minister, Air Force Gen. Rafael PeñaAntonio sends a signal to the population that it seeks to play down the case.

He also warned that the release of the accused, without anyconditions other than a ban on travel, endangers many evidence that couldvanish and also lets them “concoct all sorts of maneuvers to block out theconsequences of the actions for which they’re charged.”

"The Tucano case is symbolic and should become aturning point between what has been called a case of impunity and indifferencein cases of corruption and should be exploited to impose a new archetype of theactions of the Dominican justice aimed at ensuring better administration ofjustice," Reyes said.

“These privileged defendants have to be dispensed the sametreatment as all those who violate the law,” Reyes said in reference to money launderingand drug trafficking.