Felix Bautista takes on his defense and insists accusation is slanderous and an abuse of power
Senator defends legal origin of funds of his companies during his participation
SANTO DOMINGO. The Attorney General of the Republic, Francisco Dominguez Brito, and the Senator for San Juan de la Maguana, Felix Bautista, clashed yesterday during the preliminary trial on alleged corruption and money laundering which continues against the legislator and another six defendants.
Bautista, in the morning, interrupted the participation of the Attorney General, and defiantly called him irresponsible. During the afternoon session he defended himself against the accusation, calling it slanderous, arbitrary and an abuse of power.
"This accusation is a text taken out of context, in order to simulate the highest form of slander, capriciousness and abuse of power." He cited as an example the Sun Land Case, which he said is the same as that of the Imperial Hemisphere Consortium and which, according to him, the Justice Department disguised in order to simulate that they were taking on another case.
He insisted that there is a gross double jeopardy being exercised against his person, since he insists that they are dealing with the same incidence which were dismissed by a decree from the Supreme Court. He also removed himself from the majority of the companies which according to the accusation, are related to him.
"I only appear in five of the 46 that they say are mine. It's not true, they only one newspaper headlines." He said that the source of the funds of the Constructora Rofi, which the Justice Department attributes to illegal activities, are the result of loans with several banking entities and from projects carried out in Haiti.
The assured the court that the Justice Department committed mathematical errors, adding repeated numbers, and overvaluing prices. He said that these errors produced an overvaluation of RD$516 million.
Regarding the accusation of money laundering, Bautista said that in this aspect, "the slander is the size of the Supreme Court building," indicating that the Attorney General tied into the accusation bank accounts of the State belonging to the Office of Supervising Engineers of State Projects (OISOE).
He said that they indicated as part of an alleged network of money laundering, bank transfers from Haiti to the Dominican Republic used to purchase construction materials.
He noted, in addition, that his companies the Inmobiliaria Rofi, the Constructora Rofi, the Constructora Hadom (formed in Haiti), Seymeh, Seymeh Engineering have paid Dominican taxes of RD $54.7 million.
He also said that of the 20 projects contracted by Hadom in Haiti, 12 have been finished, and with the support of a Power Point presentation he showed photographs which he said where the finished projects in the neighboring country.
He added that another 11 projects carried out during his term in the always so a were audited by the Chamber of Accounts, audits which he said have been in the hands of the Justice Department for 2 ½ years, and where he indicated there were no irregularities.
At the close of his statements, which began at 3:30 in the afternoon, an extended for more than four hours, he cited the book "Media Injustice," by the Argentine lawyer and journalist Darío Villaroel, indicating the seriousness of "an innocent (person) for the Justice Department, be guilty for society."
"Convictions by the media should not be part of a State of law," he remarked.
Justice Department played its role
During his participation in yesterday's hearing, the Attorney General Dominguez Brito said that the Justice Department had played its role and stressed the investigation carried out in order to present the case.
"Here is what was proven; what has been investigated here, has been as public actors through an appointment and contracts or tenders improperly awarded, projects were handed out, and at the same time, in back of this money the persons which delivered it were involved," he reiterated.
Attorney General says he fulfilled his role; FB calls him irresponsible
during the morning session, Bautista challenged the Attorney General in order that he might hear him. "I wish that you would stay here. Stay, don't go Dominguez Brito. You know why? In order to tell you that you have committed an abuse of power and a great slander against me and, in an irresponsible manner you said communiqués to the newspapers saying outside there things that are not being discussed here. Stay here I am going to say it to you. Irresponsible."
Previous to the intervention of the legislator, after the Justice Department reiterated its request for a trial and preventive prison, Attorney General Dominguez Brito supported the motion with some words "for reflection."
At the beginning he referred to the crisis of responsibility which exists in the country, and and of how this crisis is seen in impunity. Then he called on the institutions to play their role in order that corruption does not remain unpunished, and he reminded the judge of Special Instruction that is hearing the case, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, that "it is better to die standing up then to live on your knees."
Bautista, in the morning, interrupted the participation of the Attorney General, and defiantly called him irresponsible. During the afternoon session he defended himself against the accusation, calling it slanderous, arbitrary and an abuse of power.
"This accusation is a text taken out of context, in order to simulate the highest form of slander, capriciousness and abuse of power." He cited as an example the Sun Land Case, which he said is the same as that of the Imperial Hemisphere Consortium and which, according to him, the Justice Department disguised in order to simulate that they were taking on another case.
He insisted that there is a gross double jeopardy being exercised against his person, since he insists that they are dealing with the same incidence which were dismissed by a decree from the Supreme Court. He also removed himself from the majority of the companies which according to the accusation, are related to him.
"I only appear in five of the 46 that they say are mine. It's not true, they only one newspaper headlines." He said that the source of the funds of the Constructora Rofi, which the Justice Department attributes to illegal activities, are the result of loans with several banking entities and from projects carried out in Haiti.
The assured the court that the Justice Department committed mathematical errors, adding repeated numbers, and overvaluing prices. He said that these errors produced an overvaluation of RD$516 million.
Regarding the accusation of money laundering, Bautista said that in this aspect, "the slander is the size of the Supreme Court building," indicating that the Attorney General tied into the accusation bank accounts of the State belonging to the Office of Supervising Engineers of State Projects (OISOE).
He said that they indicated as part of an alleged network of money laundering, bank transfers from Haiti to the Dominican Republic used to purchase construction materials.
He noted, in addition, that his companies the Inmobiliaria Rofi, the Constructora Rofi, the Constructora Hadom (formed in Haiti), Seymeh, Seymeh Engineering have paid Dominican taxes of RD $54.7 million.
He also said that of the 20 projects contracted by Hadom in Haiti, 12 have been finished, and with the support of a Power Point presentation he showed photographs which he said where the finished projects in the neighboring country.
He added that another 11 projects carried out during his term in the always so a were audited by the Chamber of Accounts, audits which he said have been in the hands of the Justice Department for 2 ½ years, and where he indicated there were no irregularities.
At the close of his statements, which began at 3:30 in the afternoon, an extended for more than four hours, he cited the book "Media Injustice," by the Argentine lawyer and journalist Darío Villaroel, indicating the seriousness of "an innocent (person) for the Justice Department, be guilty for society."
"Convictions by the media should not be part of a State of law," he remarked.
Justice Department played its role
During his participation in yesterday's hearing, the Attorney General Dominguez Brito said that the Justice Department had played its role and stressed the investigation carried out in order to present the case.
"Here is what was proven; what has been investigated here, has been as public actors through an appointment and contracts or tenders improperly awarded, projects were handed out, and at the same time, in back of this money the persons which delivered it were involved," he reiterated.
Attorney General says he fulfilled his role; FB calls him irresponsible
during the morning session, Bautista challenged the Attorney General in order that he might hear him. "I wish that you would stay here. Stay, don't go Dominguez Brito. You know why? In order to tell you that you have committed an abuse of power and a great slander against me and, in an irresponsible manner you said communiqués to the newspapers saying outside there things that are not being discussed here. Stay here I am going to say it to you. Irresponsible."
Previous to the intervention of the legislator, after the Justice Department reiterated its request for a trial and preventive prison, Attorney General Dominguez Brito supported the motion with some words "for reflection."
At the beginning he referred to the crisis of responsibility which exists in the country, and and of how this crisis is seen in impunity. Then he called on the institutions to play their role in order that corruption does not remain unpunished, and he reminded the judge of Special Instruction that is hearing the case, Alejandro Moscoso Segarra, that "it is better to die standing up then to live on your knees."
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