NewsWhore
05-05-2006, 02:10 PM
The Supreme Court of Justice ruled yesterday that articles 1 and 7 of the contract signed by the Dominican government and the company Loteria Electronica Internacional Dominicana are unconstitutional and therefore not valid. The court ruled that the articles gave the company a monopoly on computerized gaming in the country. LEIDSA operates the lotto in the country. The articles were contested by Meej Electronic, S.A., a company interested in entering the market. The contract dates back to 30 May 1996 (during Joaquin Balaguer's last administration) and was ratified on 31 January 1997 (when Leonel Fernandez was in power). Meej Electronic disputed the clauses that granted exclusive rights to Leidsa to operate, administer and market an electronic lottery in the DR in exchange for 21% of the sales revenues receipts to be paid to the National Lottery.
The high court ruled that this contract violates Article 55, paragraph 10 and 110 of the constitution as it also grants exemptions and exemptions from customs charges and taxes without them having previously been approved by Congress. The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Constitution establishes that only the state can operate a monopoly.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
The high court ruled that this contract violates Article 55, paragraph 10 and 110 of the constitution as it also grants exemptions and exemptions from customs charges and taxes without them having previously been approved by Congress. The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Constitution establishes that only the state can operate a monopoly.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)