More defendants seek dismissal in Dominican Republic corruption case

Twelve more defendants in the high-profile corruption case led by former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez are seeking to have criminal charges against them dropped. Their requests come after the main defendant, Rodríguez, had his own plea for the dismissal of charges rejected by the court.

The case involves 15 individuals and several companies, and the formal accusation from the Public Ministry has yet to be presented more than two years after the opening of the trial. Judges have repeatedly ordered prosecutors to begin reading the charges, but defense teams have consistently interrupted the proceedings with new motions.

Last week, the court denied Rodríguez's request to end his prosecution, stating that the nearly six-year duration of the case has been justified and reasonable. The judges cited delays caused by postponement requests from all parties, including the prosecution, as reasons for the extended timeline.

The defendants requesting dismissal include Jonathan Loanders Medina, Javier Alejandro Forteza, Altagracia Guillén Calzado, Isis Tapia Stefanni, Alfredo Alexander Solano Augusto, Ramón Lucrecio Burgos Acosta, Francis Ramírez Moreno, Miguel José Moya, Rafael Antonio Mercedes, Félix Antonio Rosario Labrada, Juan Asael Martínez, and Alejandro Martín Rosa Llanes. The trial was adjourned until August 31.