NewsWhore
02-22-2012, 12:20 PM
The court of appeal in San Pedro de Macoris has released four Venezuelans who were convicted and sentenced to thirty years by a court in Higuey for cocaine smuggling.
Those released were Kene Mendez, Gustavo Arnaiz, Franklin Antonio Armada and Barbara Susana, who were arrested in December 2009 after landing at Punta Cana International Airport on a plane from the Venezuelan city of Valencia.
The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) said that the accused had 58 packages of cocaine and the court in Higuey passed the maximum sentence, which was appealed on Monday night.
The decision to release the Venezuelans was taken by magistrates Kenia del Pilar Tavarez, Adelina Ramirez and Juan Gulamo, who decided that the public prosecutor had not presented sufficient evidence to ratify or reduce their sentence.
The DNCD said that they could not comment on the decision.
They said that when the drugs were found, DNCD chief Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo ordered the arrest of all the officers on duty at the terminal and following an investigation several officers and agents were dismissed from the DNCD, the Armed Forces and the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESA).
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)
Those released were Kene Mendez, Gustavo Arnaiz, Franklin Antonio Armada and Barbara Susana, who were arrested in December 2009 after landing at Punta Cana International Airport on a plane from the Venezuelan city of Valencia.
The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) said that the accused had 58 packages of cocaine and the court in Higuey passed the maximum sentence, which was appealed on Monday night.
The decision to release the Venezuelans was taken by magistrates Kenia del Pilar Tavarez, Adelina Ramirez and Juan Gulamo, who decided that the public prosecutor had not presented sufficient evidence to ratify or reduce their sentence.
The DNCD said that they could not comment on the decision.
They said that when the drugs were found, DNCD chief Major General Rolando Rosado Mateo ordered the arrest of all the officers on duty at the terminal and following an investigation several officers and agents were dismissed from the DNCD, the Armed Forces and the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESA).
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#7)