Three months of pre-trial detention imposed on man accused of killing young man over alleged RD$20,000 debt in Santiago

Santiago.- A judge from the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of Santiago imposed three months of preventive prison against a man accused of fatally shooting a 23-year-old man during a discussion originating from an alleged debt of RD$20,000 in the La Otra Banda sector. The measure was dictated by Judge José Rafael de Asís Burgos, coordinator of the Instruction Courts of the judicial district of Santiago, against Ramón Malaquia Checo, identified as responsible for the death of Lisandro Medina Rodríguez. According to preliminary investigations, the conflict would have arisen over a debt of RD$20,000 that the victim allegedly received for the purchase of equipment and supplies for a business, money that, according to the authorities, would not have been returned. The Public Ministry attributes to the accused the charges of voluntary homicide and attempted homicide, while the court ordered that he comply with the coercion measure at the Rafey Hombres Correction and Rehabilitation Center.

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Outside the Courthouse, the victim’s family demanded a more severe sentence and described Lisandro Medina Rodríguez as a young, hardworking man who was loved in his community. “He was a healthy boy, he didn’t bother anyone. Everyone loved him. Let them go and collect like the people, but don’t kill. I want justice”, expressed Rosa Herminia Medina, the deceased’s mother, through tears. While Agelina Medina Rodríguez, the victim’s aunt, stated that the discussion began after her nephew explained that he had family problems and a sick child. According to her account, the accused reacted violently and subsequently fired the shot. “He shouldn’t have taken his life for money. After the shot, he still wanted to keep attacking him even though he was on the ground,” he stated. Meanwhile, José Miguel, cousin of the deceased young man, stated that they both worked washing vehicles at the Hospedaje Yaque and denied that the victim was a loan shark. “For RD$20,000 he took his life. He was a hardworking young man,” she maintained. The case remains under investigation by the judicial authorities and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Santiago.