Santo Domingo. Lawyer Laura Acosta, who represents several victims of the Jet Set tragedy, focused her opening arguments in the trial against siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat on civil liability and what she described as a “corporate web” surrounding the nightclub’s administration.
Acosta said the plaintiffs have joined the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s case regarding criminal liability, but will seek to establish during the trial who, beyond the defendants, could also bear civil responsibility.
According to Acosta, Antonio Espaillat managed the nightclub through Inversiones EIL SRL, while other companies linked to the businessman were involved in operations related to the establishment.
The lawyer argued that this structure allegedly contributed to diluting the assets of Inversiones EIL, which, according to her, no longer owns the property or generates income because the nightclub no longer exists.
“We will prove to this court, through the evidence presented, that through a web of companies, Mr. Antonio Espaillat López used other companies, essentially with the purpose of diluting the assets of Inversiones EIL,” Acosta said.
She warned that holding only an operating company or the property owner responsible could leave victims with a criminal conviction but no realistic possibility of obtaining financial compensation.
The lawyer asked the court to closely examine the relationships among the companies linked to the Jet Set and said the plaintiffs will later make requests concerning their potential civil liability.
The trial began Friday before the Fourth Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of the National District.
