Donald Guerrero faces indictment in RD$19 billion corruption case

Calamar case corruption trial Donald Guerrero land expropriation fraud Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic's Public Ministry has begun reading its formal indictment in the ‘Calamar case,’ involving former Minister of Finance Donald Guerrero and lawyer Ángel Lockward. The prosecution alleges a massive corruption scheme that defrauded the state of more than RD$19 billion through irregular payments for land expropriations, fraudulent credit assignments, and bribery.

Prosecutors from the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) claim the criminal structure used the state as an instrument to enrich its members and maintain political power. The indictment further alleges that a portion of the illicit funds was used to finance the 2020 electoral campaign.

The trial is being held before the Third Collegiate Court of the National District. During proceedings, the court rejected a recusal attempt by Pepca against presiding judge Aylin Ventura. Judge Ventura had previously issued a dissenting vote, arguing that the criminal action should be declared extinct due to the expiration of the legal time limits for the trial.

Entities

Donald Guerrero · Fuerza del Pueblo · Fundación Primero Justicia · Miguel Surún Hernández · Ministério Público · Mirna Ortiz · PEPCA · Procuraduría General de la República · Santo Domingo · Tercer Tribunal Colegiado del Distrito Nacional · Ángel Lockward

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] The prosecution alleges the defendants used the State as an instrument and corruption as a method to enrich themselves and remain in power. diariofinanciero.do · diarionoticias.do · elatlantico.do · ensegundos.do · eldia.com.do
[○ 1 SOURCE] Some funds obtained through the scheme were allegedly used to finance the 2020 electoral campaign. diariofinanciero.do
[● 5 SOURCES] The alleged scheme defrauded the Dominican State of more than RD$19 billion. diariofinanciero.do · diarionoticias.do · elatlantico.do · ensegundos.do · eldia.com.do
[● 2 SOURCES] The court rejected a recusal filed by Mirna Ortiz against Judge Aylin Ventura. diarionoticias.do · eldia.com.do
[● 3 SOURCES] Judge Aylin Ventura issued a dissenting vote arguing that the criminal action had expired due to the maximum legal duration. diarionoticias.do · www.diariolibre.com · eldia.com.do
[● 3 SOURCES] The fraudulent mechanisms included irregular payments for land expropriations and fraudulent credit assignments. diariofinanciero.do · diarionoticias.do · eldia.com.do