Dominican court upholds preventive detention for ex‑Senasa chief Santiago Hazim

The Seventh Court of Instruction in Santo Domingo, presided by Judge Deiby Timoteo Peguero, has repeatedly confirmed the preventive detention of former Seguro Nacional de Salud (Senasa) director Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy and five co‑accused officials. The decision follows the “Operation Cobra” investigation that alleges a corruption network that misappropriated more than 15 billion Dominican pesos from the state health insurer, affecting over seven million affiliates. Prosecutor Wilson Camacho argued that the measure remains “necessary, appropriate and proportional,” while the defense sought house arrest on grounds of Hazim’s multiple sclerosis and latent tuberculosis. The court rejected the request, stating that medical treatment can be provided within the prison system. Hazim also withdrew his own request for house arrest, opting to remain in the Centro de Corrección y Rehabilitación Las Parras. The same preventive order applies to Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, Germán Rafael Robles Quiñones, Francisco Iván Minaya Pérez, Rafael Luis Martínez Hazim and Ramón Alan Speakler Mateo, with a review scheduled for 5 November.