SANTO DOMINGO - Lawyer Carlos Salcedo , representing a married couple who lost their three children in the Jet Set tragedy, accused Maribel Espaillat , sister of owner Antonio, of obstructing Dominican justice.
“There is a criminal justification that the Public Prosecutor's Office did not foresee, and I am announcing it for the first time. And that is obstruction of justice,” the jurist stated in an interview on the program “El Día” on Telesistema.
Salcedo pointed out that Maribel's actions—contacting one of the employees, Gregory Adames —and allegedly warning him to be careful what he said, as it could lead to up to 20 years in prison for her brother, Antonio, constitute a serious element in this process.
“She publicly announced that he was dead. That would strike anyone as odd – given that he was alive. You can understand whatever. Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue on her part; she forgot that the employee who organized the event, and who later spoke with her, was still alive. In other words, there are a number of contradictions there,” he stated.
In that regard, he stated that this conduct fits within the figure of obstruction of justice, although he lamented that in Dominican legislation this type of crime carries only six months to two years in prison.
During his speech, Salcedo revealed that, on the other hand, they will also develop legal actions against the State for institutional omission regarding the supervisory and intervention responsibilities that corresponded to it.
“All administrations that failed to intervene promptly, that failed to warn of this risk, must be held accountable in a legal process to provide financial compensation, as established by the Constitution and the law. And we announce today that we will take action against state institutions, and those who neglected their duty of care will be held responsible,” he stated.
The lawyer stated that this tragedy was the price of ignorance of duty . A scenario that occurred not only due to the owners' failure to fulfill their responsibilities but also due to the negligence of every institution that should have acted but did not.
He stated that this event should not only prompt reflection throughout the country but also among legal professionals, so that the Government begins to respond to its institutional responsibilities and those of its representatives.
“Logically, it warrants very special attention from the Dominican State. And, in this case, the evidence is that no institution, neither Public Works nor Housing nor the City Council nor any of the institutions called upon to preserve the safety of the facilities, the buildings, the constructions, intervened,” he pointed out.
Carlos Salcedo explained that the tragedy of April 8th demonstrated that the country does not have an adequate criminal classification for what happened that morning, which left a total of 236 people dead and more than 180 injured.
“That would be pending. We lawyers refer to it as 'lejes ferendas' (proposed laws) . When you have a legislative need in the Dominican Republic and events like these are not properly addressed, the legislator—and that's why we say 'lejes ferendas'—must intervene promptly. This is a call for a thorough review in that regard,” he explained.
The lawyer indicated that this event is part of the lessons and challenges still pending in legal and institutional matters at the national level.
“That said, what remains is the victims’ interest in compensation. No death can be brought back to life with money. No permanent injury can be compensated with financial resources. But clearly, the justice system was created for this purpose. The victims, the bereaved, suffer material damage, psychological damage, moral damage, and damage of every kind,” he acknowledged.
Knowledge of coercive measures
The hearing on coercive measures against the Espaillat siblings – Antonio and Maribel – was postponed until Wednesday, June 18th at 11 a.m.
Both Antonio and Maribel are being charged with manslaughter , injuries and blows due to the collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub.
