Fourth Parmalat suspect caught

A fourth suspect in the spectacular Parmalat robbery attempt last Thursday was arrested yesterday in a residence in the province of Santo Domingo where the police seized two SUVs, a revolver, a shotgun, a bullet-proof vest, boots and other military equipment. 

Felix Ortega, who was being looked for in relation to a homicide and had been declared a fugitive from justice, was arrested in the residence located on Cayena Street #14 of Prado Oriental on the San Isidro Highway.  The house was thought to be the supposed command center for the military personnel involved in the crime.  

The Prosecutor for the province of Santo Domingo, Perfecto Acosta, reported that today Ortega would be sent before a judge of Instruction in order to request an order for remand to custody. 

Meanwhile the investigation spread to higher officers and colonels with a look at establishing all of the ramifications of the criminal group. 

The investigators are centering on an analysis of similar crimes, perpetrated with such spectacular display of force, in order to determine if they are the same perpetrators. The official said, “In an investigation nothing can be discarded and nothing affirmed if there are no elements of proof, and therefore, in something with these characteristics everything that can offer details has to be investigated.” 

On the other hand, a police spokesperson, Colonel Nelson Rosario, revealed that investigators are on the trail of another part of the participants in the Parmalat robbery attempt. 

The magistrate for Permanent Attention in the province of Santo Domingo, Rene del Rosario, order preventive prison for 12 months for the former major in the Dominican Air Force, Jose Luis Vargas Cuello, the former sergeant, Carlos Miguel Santana Camacho and the civilian, Marcos Comas. 

Rosario said that today the police will offer broader details on the investigation process. Even though at first twelve supposed robbers participated in the attempt, he said that the police do not have an exact number. He repeated the fact that the police are looking into the possibility that the group has other crimes pending solution or if they have committed assaults with a similarly spectacular display as at Parmalat. 

Diario Libre