Coercion imposed on three men implicated in multimillion-dollar fraud in the "Golden Paradise" housing project

SANTO DOMINGO.- Based on the evidence presented by the Public Prosecutor's Office, a court in Puerto Plata imposed, as coercive measures, the payment of one million pesos, periodic appearances and a travel ban against three men under investigation for a multi-million dollar fraud, scam and use of falsified documents related to the "Golden Paradise" housing project.

The measure was imposed on Jesús Aldea Abian, of Spanish nationality, the lawyer Pedro Pablo Pérez and his wife Griselda Antonia Calderón Taveras.

The legal action stemmed from a complaint filed by Dámaso Medrano Reyes, who reported that he had been the victim of the falsification of his signature on a general power of attorney, through which broad powers were granted to his then partner Jesús Aldea Abián, to act on his behalf within the project.

According to the complaint, the falsified documents were used to divert investor funds to two other companies: Guztrade SRL and Condular SRL, created in conjunction with the also-accused Pedro Pablo Pérez and Griselda Antonia Calderón Taveras. Despite the payments made, the project, which was supposed to be built in the municipality of San Felipe de Puerto Plata, was never constructed.

The power of attorney was notarized by Rodolfo Morales Almonte and sent to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for analysis. The expert report, through certificate No. DRN-075-2025, dated June 26, 2025, confirmed that the signatures did not belong to Mr. Medrano Reyes, thus validating the forgery allegation.

During the hearing, the prosecuting attorney Massiel Peña presented sufficient evidence before Judge Rosalba Francisco Parra, of the Puerto Plata Court of Instruction, who imposed the coercive measure on the defendants.

Rosalía Vargas Gómez, the investigating prosecutor in the case, continues the proceedings to determine the magnitude of the fraud.

The case has been preliminarily classified as a violation of articles 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 265, 266, and 408 of the Dominican Penal Code.