Merits trial of the Calamar case begins this Wednesday in the National District
The Dominican judicial system marks a milestone this Wednesday, August 19, the date on which the Third Collegiate Court of the National District will begin the trial on the merits against those involved in the so-called Calamar case. This process, which has captured public attention, involves the former Minister of Finance, Donald Guerrero, the lawyer Ángel Lockward, and other defendants in a network that, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, allegedly defrauded the Dominican State of an amount exceeding RD$19 billion.
Judicial process details
The hearing will be presided over by Magistrate Arlyn Ventura, who leads the court alongside judges Leticia Martínez and Evelyn Rodríguez. The session is expected to focus on the reading of the formal indictment by representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, unless procedural incidents arise that force a rescheduling.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has structured its case file based on 1,770 pieces of evidence, which were validated during the preliminary stage to support the charges of administrative corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Alofoke DeportesAccusations and alleged corruption network
The prosecuting body maintains that those involved formed a criminal network focused on:
- Diversion of funds through irregular payments for expropriations of land for public utility.
- Theft of resources intended to settle debts of state institutions.
- Implementation of bribery schemes in the gambling sector.
- Illicit financing of political activities during the 2020 electoral campaign.
List of defendants
The list of individuals sent to trial is extensive and includes key figures from the previous administration and external collaborators. Among those prosecuted are Agustín Mejía Ávila, Princesa Alexandra García Medina, Juan Tomás Polanco Céspedes, Julián Omar Fernández Figueroa, Kimberly Salas Martínez, Natalie Hernández Guzmán, Luis Miguel Piccirillo McCabe, Manuel Milcíades Morilla Soto, César Miguel Santana Martínez, Mabel Sahina Mejía Cintrón, and Marino Cabrera Ramón.
Likewise, the file includes Daniel de Jesús Caamaño Santana, Ramón David Hernández, Yahaira Brito Evangelista, Claudio Silver Peña, Aldo Antonio Gerbasi Fernández, Alejandro Antonio Constanzo Sosa, Roberto Santiago Moquete, Omar Manuel Miqui Arias, Edwin Óscar Brito Martínez, and Manuel Milcíades Morilla Gil, in addition to various legal entities linked to the investigation.
Towards a judicial resolution
This trial represents the decisive stage where the admitted evidence and defense arguments will be debated. The court must determine the criminal liability or possible acquittal of each of the accused regarding crimes that include document forgery, collusion of officials, and illicit financing, charges that will be settled under the scrutiny of the Dominican justice system.
