Ex judge in ‘rulings for sale scandal seeks asylum at Vatican Embassy

Santo Domingo.- Former magistrate Francisco Arias, fired inthe heels of the “rulings for sale” scandal, arrived on Monday morning in the VaticanEmbassy where he allegedly requested political asylum, just two days before ahearing in the scandal.

An unidentified person quoted by diariolibre.com said Ariaswasn’t in the embassy any longer.

Just minutes after Arias’ lawyer, Carlos Balcácer arrivedat the door of the diplomatic mission and said his client wouldnot comment onthe decision to seek asylum.

Balcácer told reporters that he advised Arias to leave theplace.

A few hours earlier, the former member of the JudicialCouncil had entered the facility, read a document requesting asylum, and inwhich accused president Danilo Medina and Senate president Reinaldo Pared of hatchinga plot against former president Leonel Fernandez and former justice minister RadhamesJimenez.

In addition to Arias, former judge Awilda Reyes was alsoindicted for allegedly “selling” sentences favoring drug traffickers and money launderers.

Denial

Just hours later, Senatepresident Reinaldo Pared discarded las Arias’ accusations as “hair-brained andbaseless.”