Kidnappings 7 years ago put ex-police chief back in the news

Santo Domingo.- The wife of Juan Almonte, kidnapped infront of his home seven years ago today, on Friday said she fears the NationalPolice because she has two children and doesn’t want to put their safety atrisk.

In 2010 Dominican Human Rights Committee president VirgilioAlmanzar said Almonte’s was among several charred bodies found in an abandoned car.

He said two National Police officers were willing to meetwith then president Leonel Fernandez or Justice minister Radhames Jimenez, toreveal the names of those who allegedly killed Almonte and another man fromBonao (central), whose bodies were allegedly hurled to the sea bound to cinder blocks.

Police spokesman

Speaking on the case by phone on the Show del Mediodia on ColorVisionChannel 9, National Police spokesman Rosario said the public cannot fear theNational Police, which he affirms doesn’t persecute citizens.

Show del Mediodia cohost Grainer Mendez noted that Almonte’skidnapping occurred during the tenure of Rafael Guillermo Guzman Fermin aschief of the National Police, a period highly questioned by local andinternational human rights agencies, for alleged extrajudicial executions.

The most questioned case during Guzman’s tenure was that ofthe suspects in the alleged kidnapping of Eduardo Antonio Baldera Gómez,Cecilio Días and William Checo, found dead despite being captured alive severaldays earlier.