NewsWhore
02-23-2009, 01:00 PM
The local press has been pointing out the incongruence between statements by Air Force chief Major General Carlos Altuna Tezano about the career record of arrested Air Force Major Jorge Luis Vargas Cuello, and other military and police intelligence records that show that he was allowed to remain in the Air Force despite a series of run-ins with the law. Vargas Cuello was arrested after being tracked down by two policemen after they left the scene of a robbery at the Parmalat milk and juice plant in Villa Faro last week. He is believed to be the ringleader of 11 thieves who according to the Police entered the Parmalat offices in Villa Duarte in four vehicles and a Harley Davidson motorcycle around 9pm on Thursday. To get in, witnesses told the press that Major Jorge Luis Vargas identified himself as a DNCD agent. The thieves reportedly made away with cash after hearing that a police squad had been alerted on the police radio frequency. While early reports mention RD$300,000 - RD$800,000 in loot, a report in Monday's El Caribe says that the assailants could have made off with as much as RD$4 million.
Interviewed by Huchi Lora on CDN Radio on Friday, Altuna Tezanos said that Vargas Cuello was an Air Force academy instructor with 28 years' service who served as co-director of the Air Force cultural radio station. Altuna Tezanos said he only had minor faults on his record, such as arriving late on duty. He commented on several occasions that Vargas's shift in conduct could only be explained by Freud.
However, Listin Diario revealed that other intelligence reports already profile him as a criminal. They have him down as involved in a case of the kidnapping of a couple in 2003 and the murder of two people whose bodies were mutilated and found in a tank full of cement in San Francisco de Macoris.
Saturday's Listin also reported that military intelligence records reveal that Vargas Cuello had tested positive in anti-doping tests when he was a cadet at the Batalla de Las Carreras Military Academy, and later when he made the rank of first lieutenant. Listin Diario says that there are other cases of bad conduct in his record.
Hoy newspaper reports that Jose Vargas Cuello had a vast crime record, "but had certain protection and that was the reason that he remained in the Air Force."
Roberto Lebron, spokesman for the National Drug Control Department, said that Vargas had been expelled from that organization in 1995 "because he did not adapt to following the rules". He said that the officer worked at the DNCD from 12 June to 20 November 1995 and held the rank of a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He said that Vargas was expelled from the anti-narcotics division and sent back to the Air Force.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)
Interviewed by Huchi Lora on CDN Radio on Friday, Altuna Tezanos said that Vargas Cuello was an Air Force academy instructor with 28 years' service who served as co-director of the Air Force cultural radio station. Altuna Tezanos said he only had minor faults on his record, such as arriving late on duty. He commented on several occasions that Vargas's shift in conduct could only be explained by Freud.
However, Listin Diario revealed that other intelligence reports already profile him as a criminal. They have him down as involved in a case of the kidnapping of a couple in 2003 and the murder of two people whose bodies were mutilated and found in a tank full of cement in San Francisco de Macoris.
Saturday's Listin also reported that military intelligence records reveal that Vargas Cuello had tested positive in anti-doping tests when he was a cadet at the Batalla de Las Carreras Military Academy, and later when he made the rank of first lieutenant. Listin Diario says that there are other cases of bad conduct in his record.
Hoy newspaper reports that Jose Vargas Cuello had a vast crime record, "but had certain protection and that was the reason that he remained in the Air Force."
Roberto Lebron, spokesman for the National Drug Control Department, said that Vargas had been expelled from that organization in 1995 "because he did not adapt to following the rules". He said that the officer worked at the DNCD from 12 June to 20 November 1995 and held the rank of a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He said that Vargas was expelled from the anti-narcotics division and sent back to the Air Force.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)