Santo Domingo.- The Public Ministry (MP) described the sentence of the Second Collegiate Tribunal of the National District as a decision with favorable and unfavorable aspects. The ruling read early this Thursday imposed a sentence of 7 years in prison on Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez and acquitted other defendants in the case derived from Operation Octopus. The institution announced that it will appeal the acquittals. The Attorney General’s Office highlighted the conviction of Juan Alexis Medina for bribery in commerce and investment, money laundering, use of false documents, and association of wrongdoers. The court also imposed 6 years on José Dolores Santana Carmona and 5 years on Wacal Vernabel Méndez Pineda, Francisco Ramón Brea Morel, Carlos Martín Montes de Oca, Rigoberto Alcántara Batista, Paola Mercedes, and Víctor Matías Encarnación (the latter with suspension of the sentence under rules). The seizure of assets was ordered and multiple related companies were sanctioned, in addition to the payment of RD$500 million to the State. Among those acquitted are Fernando Rosa, Carmen Magalys Medina Sánchez, and Freddy Hidalgo. The Public Ministry considers that these acquittals result from an incorrect assessment of the evidence presented and will proceed with the appeal. The full reading of the sentence was scheduled for September 25.
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