# Judicial developments in Dominican Republic and Spain

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/judicial-developments-in-dominican-republic-and-spain
> Updated: 2026-09-14T15:35:38.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 2.

In the Dominican Republic, the Third Collegiate Court of the National District has rejected requests to end criminal action in the Calamar corruption case, which involves allegations of defrauding the state of over 19 billion pesos through irregular land expropriation payments. The court ruled that legal time limits have not expired, allowing the trial against former officials, including former Finance Minister Donald Guerrero, to proceed.

Simultaneously, the Second Collegiate Court is scheduled to rule on September 21 regarding similar requests for the extinction of criminal action filed by 12 defendants in the case involving former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez. The court has previously maintained that delays in the six-year process are reasonable and attributable to various parties.

In unrelated criminal matters, a judge imposed three months of preventive detention on pastor Ángel Gabriel Capellán, accused of physical and psychological abuse and forced labor involving 14 minors at the Restaurando Vida foundation. His alleged accomplice, Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez, was granted economic bail. Additionally, the Public Ministry has requested preventive detention for three Colombian nationals accused of operating a criminal network that sedated men in entertainment venues to steal money and valuables.

In Spain, Minister of Justice Félix Bolaños has appealed a decision by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) to archive his complaint against Judge Juan Carlos Peinado. Bolaños, who acted as a witness in an investigation involving Begoña Gómez, criticized the CGPJ for ‘conservatism’ and ‘corporatism,’ seeking to reopen the investigation into Peinado’s conduct, which he characterized as having an ‘objectively intimidating attitude.’

## Claims

- The Third Collegiate Court of the National District rejected requests to dismiss the Calamar corruption case. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The court ruled that the legal time limit for the corruption proceedings has not expired. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- A judge imposed three months of preventive detention against pastor Ángel Gabriel Capellán for alleged abuse and torture of minors. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The Public Ministry requested preventive detention for three Colombian nationals accused of sedating men to rob them. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The Public Ministry requested preventive detention for Ángel Gabriel Capellán. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Defendant Ángel Lockward claims the legal time limit for the prosecution has been exceeded. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Prosecutor Mirna Ortiz stated the court's decision prevents defendants from avoiding trial for defrauding the state of over 19 billion pesos. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Second Collegiate Court will rule on September 21 regarding the criminal action extinction request for 12 defendants in the Jean Alain Rodríguez case. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Prosecutors requested three months of preventive detention for two men accused of aggravated pimping and money laundering in San Carlos. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Henry Tomás Castillo Peña and Brailyn López Del Rosario are accused of using social media to exploit adults and minors for sexual services. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: Dominican Republic courts advance major corruption and criminal trials

Dominican Republic courts advance major cases, including the Calamar corruption trial and the Jean Alain Rodríguez investigation, while imposing detention in child abuse and robbery cases.

23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/los-tres-brazos-land-scandal-case-dismissed-by-court

### 2026-08-19: Legal developments in Venezuela and Dominican Republic courts

Legal developments in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic: Captain Juan Carlos Caguaripano's appeal has been admitted in Carabobo, while Argenis Contreras González's 20-year sentence is finalized in the DR.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/legal-developments-in-venezuela-and-dominican-republic-courts

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Cite as: Judicial developments in Dominican Republic and Spain. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/judicial-developments-in-dominican-republic-and-spain