Corruption network impacted by Operation Cobra captured billions in bribes to get rich

Santo Domingo.– The web of administrative corruption faced with Operation Cobra captured billions of pesos to enrich themselves to the detriment of the health services offered to the population by the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa).

Evidence suggests that, under the guise of collecting funds for political purposes, some of the accused were obtaining bribe money for personal gain, which they used to acquire properties, create shell companies to buy and manage assets, and make various investments that are under investigation.

The Public Ministry has requested the imposition of 18 months of preventive prison, as a coercive measure, against Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, former director of SeNaSa; Rafael Luis Martínez Hazim, Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, Germán Rafael Robles Quiñones, Francisco Iván Minaya Pérez, Eduardo Read Estrella, Cinty Acosta Sención, Heidi Mariela Pineda, Ramón Alan Speakler Mateo and Ada Ledesma Ubiera.

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On Wednesday, the Attorney General, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, explained to the journalists covering the judicial source, that the Public Ministry with the accused begins to apply the rules established in the recently enacted Law no. 97-25 which creates the new Criminal Procedure Code of the Dominican Republic.

“What we can be certain of is that there will be more people charged because the results and the evidence that we continue to have in our hands from the moment this investigation requests the measure, but continues, it is evident that I can give you absolute assurance that there will be more people charged,” said Reynoso.

“And yes, there are people under investigation who are doctors and different professionals in the health area, because obviously these procedures were not done alone and they are medical procedures,” he indicated.

He said that there are also multiple health centers under investigation. “It’s not that they will be investigated, it’s that we have been investigating for some time.”

He explained that, as the investigation is so extensive, the Public Ministry decided to bring the case to court in separate parts to facilitate the courts’ knowledge of the process.

“Anyone who touched a penny of the National Health Insurance, where more than 7 million Dominicans have their health insured, has to answer to justice. For the Public Ministry, this is a case of the highest priority,” he stated.

“This team has been working tirelessly, and will continue to work so that, not only are there exemplary criminal sanctions, but also, that the State seizes and restores every peso,” Yeni Berenice expressed.