Ex Dominican Republic leader still owes money to kingpin: Lawyer

Santo Domingo.- Prominent attorney Felix Damian Olivares on Thursday revealed serving as mediator between former president Leonel Fernandez and ex drug trafficking convict Quirino Paulino, to collect RD$200 million the former kingpin claims he loaned to the former chief executive.

Olivares said he was asked to mediate after he visited Paulino and when he inquired what he wanted, the former trafficker responded "my money."

Interviewed by Salvador Holguin on Teleradio America Channel 45, the lawyer said the negotiation failed on Paulino’s mistrust due to Fernandez’s lack of response.

He said he only sought to ease Paulino’s situation, since in his view the authorities seized even the assets not derived from drug trafficking.

He said he’s still Paulino’s attorney and has hearing next month processes pending with his client.