( Spanish) – Seven of the 10 detained for the alleged trafficking of ammunition and other equipment allegedly stolen from the Weapons Administration of the National Police of the Dominican Republic received preventive detention on Tuesday, by decision of Judge Fátima Veloz, of the Judicial Office of Attention Services Permanent of the National District.
According to the coercion request presented by the Public Ministry, the police network that was dismantled by the so-called Operation Pandora, allegedly created a criminal organization that clandestinely trafficked ammunition and other equipment of the institution.
Preventive detention applies to two colonels, a captain, a lieutenant, a corporal and two privates, who will serve the measure at the Special Operations Center located in Manoguayabo, Santo Domingo Oeste.
Among them is Colonel Narciso Feliz Romero, former Armas Mayor, who is identified by the authorities as the alleged leader of this network. His legal representative, Vinicio Aquino Figuereo, rejected the accusations and assured that he will appeal the decision. (SOT Aquino).
Two other members of the institution were released with financial guarantee, while the only accused civilian will be under house arrest. The three are part of a group of four named in the case who are seeking an agreement to cooperate with the Public Ministry.
The head of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca), Wilson Camacho, was satisfied with the judge’s decision and said that “the members of the National Police betrayed their uniform, their institution and the country.”
According to Dominican laws, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison for the crime of illicit arms trafficking, in addition to paying a fine of 50 to 75 minimum wages in the public sector, equivalent to between US$16,100 and US$16,100. 24,150.
In addition, the crime of falsification or alteration of the technical characteristics of firearms could carry a main penalty of between 5 and 10 years in prison, plus confiscation of the firearm and payment of a fine of 10 to 15 minimum wages, between US$3,220 and US$4,830.
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