Dominican authorities at the Prosecutor General Office's Asset Laundering Department are working in close cooperation with Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon in the case of a Spanish fugitive who is accused of laundering more than RD$1.7 billion (approximately US$50 million) in three tourism projects in the east of the DR.
Listin Diario learned that Spaniard Ricardo Diez Conde, who used two false identities in the DR (including Ruben Ramos) fled once he heard the authorities were on his trail. Diez is being sought in Spain for cocaine trafficking. His main business partner is in jail in Spain. The Spanish authorities have requested the confiscation of assets purchased by Diez in the DR. The source told Listin Diario that one of the problems is that Diez Conde sold more than 60% of the tourist projects to third parties who purchased in good faith. The projects and assets, located in La Altagracia and La Romana provinces, include an exchange house, real estate business and a small airplane at La Isabela Airport in Santo Domingo. The assets are estimated at more than US$50 million. Reportedly, Diez had a forged Dominican ID card and another Nicaraguan ID card.
German Miranda Villalona, who handled the case for the Dominican authorities, said that they have not quantified Diez Conde's assets. He said that Diez left the country using a Venezuelan identity. Quoted in Hoy, Miranda said: "We need to establish greater controls on foreigners, regardless of the amount of money they bring in. Our institutions must be respected".

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