Higuey Interim Judge releases U.S. fugitive Rizik

Santo Domingo. – After a hearing lasting more than four hours, Altagracia Province Permanent Attention Court ordered the “pure and simple” release of U.S. fugitive Winston Rizik Rodriguez, accused of murdering two men in the parking lot of a cockfight arena in Higüey (east).

Interim judge Cindy Ramirez ruled that the Justice Ministry’s accusation is “reckless, unfounded and devoid of evidence.”.

Rizik, who escaped from a United States jail where he was serving time on a drug trafficking conviction, is accused of gunning down Amador Cabrera Sanchez and Carlos Jiménez Silvestre (Papi Chiva).

He was arrested several weeks ago in his farm in Haina (south), charged with the murder and dismemberment of two men, but was also set free on lack of proof.