Pepca raids clinics and laboratories nationwide, arrests at least 25 doctors in SeNaSa 2.0 Case
Santo Domingo.- The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) carried out simultaneous raids Friday at clinics and laboratories in several parts of the Dominican Republic as part of a new phase of the investigation into alleged corruption involving the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa).
At least 25 doctors have reportedly been arrested during the operations, according to preliminary information from authorities and sources familiar with the investigation. The case has been described as “SeNaSa 2.0” or “Operation Cobra 2.0.”
Among those arrested is Dr. Steven Rabassa, from San Pedro de Macorís, according to sources cited by elCaribe and CDN. Representatives of the medical sector have questioned his detention, noting that Rabassa has not worked with SeNaSa for about three years and specializes in infertility treatment.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has not publicly disclosed the specific allegations against Rabassa or the other doctors arrested during Friday’s raids.
The operation is linked to the broader investigation into an alleged criminal network accused of defrauding SeNaSa of billions of pesos. Prosecutors have said the investigation seeks criminal sanctions against those responsible and the recovery or confiscation of funds allegedly taken from public resources.
According to the accusations in the original Operation Cobra, the alleged network is linked to offenses including collusion of public officials, prevarication, criminal association, bribery, fraud against the Dominican State, embezzlement, forgery, use of false documents and money laundering.
Operation Cobra Case
The original Operation Cobra investigation led to charges against former SeNaSa director Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, whom prosecutors identify as the alleged leader of the network, along with Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, Francisco Iván Minaya Pérez, Germán Rafael Robles Quiñones, Rafael Luis Martínez Hazim, Ada Ledesma Ubiera and Ramón Alan Speakler Mateo.
On August 5, the Seventh Court of Instruction of the National District again upheld the pretrial detention imposed on Hazim Albainy and other defendants linked to the case.
Friday’s raids mark a new development in the SeNaSa investigation. Authorities have not yet released a complete list of those arrested or publicly detailed the specific allegations against each individual.
