J.P. Cabrera R.
Santiago. – Five judges of La Romana’s (east) Permanent Attention Office have withdrawn from arraigning the alleged drug trafficker Jesus Pascual Cabrera Ruiz and 13 codefendants charged with forming part of a network of hired killers directed by Cabrera from jail.
The judges Franchesca Silvestre, Vicki Chalas, Idenisse Catedral, Ismael Nehemías and Denia Beras, have declined to preside over the hearing claiming to have links with Cabrera’s lawyer, his brother Julio Cabrera Ruiz.
Of the five judges, two were challenged by the defense even before presenting they decided to recuse themselves, “for lack of impartiality to hear the case.”
The San Pedro Appellate Court however has rejected the recusals.
Fear.
On Wed. chief justice Mariano German warned that those judges that harbor fear should step down from the bench.