SANTO DOMINGO.- Jean Cristofer Pérez, the lawyer for 10 of the plaintiffs in the real estate fraud case, whose hearing to determine pretrial detention is currently underway at the Ciudad Nueva Courthouse, stated this Wednesday that the defendants in the case involving more than RD$700 million pesos do not have the financial means to reimburse the victims for the money they paid to acquire the properties.
Regarding this matter, he told the media that they will appeal to the Government in due course, just as happened in 2013 when the State assumed responsibility and paid those affected by the embezzlement of the Intercontinental Bank Baninter.
"These gentlemen are insolvent and unable to pay the plaintiffs. In that sense, we will find it necessary to request the intervention of the Government, so that it can collaborate with the compensation of the victims," the lawyer indicated outside the courtroom where the coercive measure against the accused is being heard.
Pérez argued that the money the plaintiffs paid to the alleged ringleader, Emmanuel Rivera Ledesma, was spent on luxuries such as restaurants, trips, and the purchase of houses, among other things.
But lawyer Rubiskyla García thinks that even if the defendants don't have enough money in the company accounts, their resources are invested in real estate, so we have to wait until the coercive measure is over.
"There is no financial solvency in the companies' accounts, but they do have several real estate properties from which they could obtain funds," he stated.
Also being prosecuted in the case are Emmanuel Eduardo Rivera Pichardo, María Gabriela Rivera Pichardo, Escarlet Mercedes Cruz Figueroa, Reilin Arismendy Rosario García, Mirna Catalina Rivera Ledesma and Juan Omar Rosario López.
At the hearing held yesterday, the Public Ministry requested a change in the coercive measure for Reilin Arismendi Rosario, for cooperating with the justice system, requesting house arrest for the accused.
The indictment file has more than 400 pages and according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the defendants defrauded more than 300 people, of whom 177 have filed complaints.
Dozens of those affected demonstrated yesterday in front of the Palace of Justice in Ciudad Nueva to "be vigilant" as the hearing on the coercive measure began, with banners denouncing the events and demanding justice for the deception of which they say they were victims.
