SANTO DOMINGO- For the second week in a row, a group of people affected by the real estate scam carried out through a construction company, whose network was dismantled by the Public Prosecutor's Office in January of this year, through the operation called Nido, protested in front of the Palace of Justice located in Ciudad Nueva, demanding that justice be done and that the money that was stolen from them be returned.
According to the Public Ministry's accusatory file, which is over 400 pages long, the construction company IndisArq allegedly defrauded more than 300 people with an amount that, according to the accusing body's file, exceeds RD$700 million.
Dayanara Borbón, spokesperson for the victims, stated that the group she represents is requesting the arrest of Escarlet Cruz, wife of Enmanuel Rivera Ledesma, the main person responsible, according to the case file, and who, since January of this year, has been serving 18 months of preventive detention in the Najayo-Hombres Correctional and Rehabilitation Center (CCR).
The group of protesters. (External source).
“We understand that the reasons that led to being generous with her in the coercive measure consisting of preventive imprisonment, which was that she was breastfeeding, have ceased,” Borbón commented.
He understands that with so many postponements to begin the preliminary stage of the case, the justice system is trying to make the victims tire and give up, but he warned that they are prepared to take the case to the very end.
They demanded a refund of the money they paid for the purchase of real estate.
Last Monday, October 14, the defendants appeared before the Sixth Court of Instruction of the National District, where they were notified about the next hearing scheduled for November 11 of this year.
The case
In January of this year, the group of those involved was arrested after 25 raids were carried out in San Cristóbal, Dajabón and the National District, where the residences and businesses of the members of the network are located.
According to the Public Prosecutor's file, the real estate projects offered by the network were located in Santo Domingo East, through the companies IndisArq, CRD Equipos Pesados, Grupo Wirmar, and Auto Xpers AFM, which were created by the network to execute its fraudulent scheme to the detriment of the victims.
According to the Public Prosecutor's file, the network allegedly sold the same property multiple times, a fact reported by several of the alleged victims. One 14-apartment building was reportedly sold 31 times.
The Public Prosecutor's Office reported that the network did not have the corresponding permits to build the projects and in some cases did not have the land.
Most of the victims are Dominicans living abroad, who have held various demonstrations demanding justice and that the money they paid be returned to them.
