“Onco14 coercion postponed; former vice president of the Board of Trustees commits to cooperate in investigation for alleged embezzlement”

Santiago.- The judge of the Permanent Attention Office of the Judicial District of Santiago, Yiberty Polanco, postponed until next Thursday at 4:30 in the afternoon the decision regarding the request for coercive measures against those involved in Operation Onco14, a case that uncovered an alleged corruption network accused of embezzling millions of pesos intended for the treatment of cancer patients at the Cibao Regional Oncological Institute (IORC).

The magistrate made the decision after the Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded the presentation of the coercion request and the defendants’ counsels presented their arguments before the court.

During the hearing, the defense for Dilcia Isabel Vargas Sánchez, former vice president of the Board for the Fight Against Cancer and ex-wife of Héctor Lora Cruceta, revealed that the defendant is willing to cooperate with the authorities regarding the duties she performed within the institution, a stance that could be taken into account by the court when evaluating precautionary measures.

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“The Public Prosecutor’s Office presented its request for coercion, the defense teams concluded their arguments, and the process was adjourned until Thursday, when rebuttals will take place and the judge may issue a ruling or reserve the decision,” explained lawyer Antonio Falete.

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The jurist stated that Vargas Sánchez will provide information related to the responsibilities he held within the Board of Trustees, amidst an investigation that seeks to determine the magnitude of the alleged scheme of irregularities that would have affected resources destined for cancer patients.

You can also read: Onco14 file reveals alleged irregularities

For his part, lawyer Ricardo Reyna maintained that the defense hopes that the cooperative attitude shown by his client will be weighed by the court when deciding on the coercive measure requested by the prosecuting body.

Operation Onco14 has caused a great impact in Santiago and the country because the accusations revolve around the alleged irregular handling of funds that were supposed to be used for the care and treatment of people affected by cancer, a population considered especially vulnerable.

The hearing was rescheduled for Thursday at 4:30 in the afternoon, the date on which Judge Yiberty Polanco must decide the procedural future of the defendants in one of the most sensitive alleged corruption cases investigated in the northern region.