SANTO DOMINGO. - The Court of Appeals of the Judicial Department of San Pedro de Macorís, presided over by Magistrate Glass Gutiérrez, confirmed yesterday, Friday, June 11, the 18-month preventive detention of two women accused of allegedly engaging in malpractice in real estate transactions.
With this measure, the court rejected an appeal filed by the defendants and confirmed in its entirety the decision issued by the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of the Judicial District of La Romana, which on February 25 imposed the deprivation of liberty measure.
A press release from the Attorney General's Office explains that "At the request of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office against Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and the Prosecutor's Office of La Romana, a court confirmed the 18-month preventive detention imposed on Rocío del Alba Rodríguez de Moya and Marisol Nova Nolasco, the main leaders of an electronic real estate fraud network.".
Both are serving pretrial detention at the Najayo Women's Correctional Center, in the province of San Cristóbal.
The press release specifies that Yves Alexandre Giroux, "the main leader of the network," is also serving the same preventive detention measure at the Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR) in San Pedro de Macorís.
The prosecuting body explains that at the hearing for the mandatory review of the coercion of said defendant, on August 5, the Public Ministry will also ask that the deprivation of liberty measure be confirmed.
"Giroux headed the structure along with Loany Ortiz, who is still detained in Bogotá, facing the extradition process requested by the Dominican Public Prosecutor's Office and is expected to be sent to the country as soon as possible, to answer for her actions," the statement says.
He adds that the criminal group was dedicated to promoting real estate projects, attracting buyers from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Europe.
"During the course of the investigation, it has been established that the members of the criminal organization received the sum of US$ 18,851,583.12, in addition to the seizure of real estate in Santo Domingo Este, the National District, La Romana and La Altagracia, where high-end vehicles, electronic devices and relevant documentation were seized," it notes.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has indicated that the actions of the accused constitute a violation of articles 405, 265 and 266 of the Dominican Penal Code, 15 of Law 53-07 on High Technology Crimes and Offenses and Law 155-17, on Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.
The litigation team consisted of the Court Attorneys, Benito Nieves, Abraham Ortiz and Manuel Castro, as well as the prosecutor Claudio Cordero.
Judges Ramona Nova and Reina Rodríguez stated that this decision confirms the strength of the charges and the investigation being carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
