NewsWhore
09-11-2009, 06:20 PM
The Dominican authorities are investigating all possible ties and relationships in the case of the US$4.6 million that was found in a parked SUV at an apartment complex in Santo Domingo's La Esperilla sector. The assets and money belonging to the Puerto Rican fugitive Jose D. Figueroa Agosto, sentenced to 209 years in jail on the neighboring island, are being traced with the aim of seizing them as part of a money-laundering scheme. National District Prosecutor Alejandro Moscoso Segarra told Diario Libre that many of these assets are in the names of fronts. "We are going after these front men", he said. He said that they were working on a list of the assets and have intervened several accounts that belong to the fugitive involved in the case of the US$4.6 million seized on 3 September, about which 16 people have been questioned.
Moscoso Segarra warned that it is hard to explain how anyone can buy an apartment for more than RD$40 million, and the real estate company does not ask where the money is coming from. "This real estate company is obliged to ask this woman where she got the money to purchase two apartments, practically for cash". Moscoso Segarra said that this company was liable for a court summons for permitting money laundering.
Presidency Minister Cesar Pina Toribio asked yesterday for all Jose Figueroa Agosto's probable "important connections" to be investigated. "To a certain extent, each of these cases is going to reveal ties, and it is going to reveal participation, including, possibly authorities and organizations or any entity", he said.
"What has to be done in each case is to continue the investigation and those who are found to be involved at any level of complicity will be punished and receive the full weight of the law", he added. He said that drug trafficking is "checkmating" institutions not only in the Dominican Republic, but also in the whole world.
Meanwhile, the director of the Prosecutor's office Anti-Laundering of Assets Unit, German Miranda Villalona, said that he was disturbed by the fact that the Puerto Rican fugitive was walking around with a DNI carnet, three "cedulas" from the JCE and provisional residence permits as well as permanent residence permits issued by the Migration Department. He called for less leniency and tougher treatment for international criminals. He said that casinos, auto dealers, money exchange houses and the real estate sector are a risk for money laundering.
So far, the DNCD and the National District prosecutor have questioned 16 people in connection with the case. Yesterday further searches of car dealerships were made in the northern region, and a special team of investigators was sent to Puerto Plata to track assets said to belong to the Puerto Rican drug dealer.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)
Moscoso Segarra warned that it is hard to explain how anyone can buy an apartment for more than RD$40 million, and the real estate company does not ask where the money is coming from. "This real estate company is obliged to ask this woman where she got the money to purchase two apartments, practically for cash". Moscoso Segarra said that this company was liable for a court summons for permitting money laundering.
Presidency Minister Cesar Pina Toribio asked yesterday for all Jose Figueroa Agosto's probable "important connections" to be investigated. "To a certain extent, each of these cases is going to reveal ties, and it is going to reveal participation, including, possibly authorities and organizations or any entity", he said.
"What has to be done in each case is to continue the investigation and those who are found to be involved at any level of complicity will be punished and receive the full weight of the law", he added. He said that drug trafficking is "checkmating" institutions not only in the Dominican Republic, but also in the whole world.
Meanwhile, the director of the Prosecutor's office Anti-Laundering of Assets Unit, German Miranda Villalona, said that he was disturbed by the fact that the Puerto Rican fugitive was walking around with a DNI carnet, three "cedulas" from the JCE and provisional residence permits as well as permanent residence permits issued by the Migration Department. He called for less leniency and tougher treatment for international criminals. He said that casinos, auto dealers, money exchange houses and the real estate sector are a risk for money laundering.
So far, the DNCD and the National District prosecutor have questioned 16 people in connection with the case. Yesterday further searches of car dealerships were made in the northern region, and a special team of investigators was sent to Puerto Plata to track assets said to belong to the Puerto Rican drug dealer.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#11)