Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Francisco Domínguez on Tuesday said the case of two Colombians brothers charged with money laundering is even more serious than those of former Army captain Quirino Paulino and Puerto Rican kingpin Jose Figueroa Agosto.
He said last week’s bail granted to the alleged drug traffickers Huber Osvaldo Buitrago and Angel Maria Buitrago is a crime in itself.
Interviewed by phone on Zol 106.5 FM, Dominguez said the accused haven’t been released because of more documents have to be processed.
After the interview, Rafael Antonio Taveras, the Colombian’s lawyer, called the station and asked the top prosecutor to carry out the Buitrago’s release on bail, or otherwise face contempt charges, and refuted claims that the case against his clients is more serious cases of Figueroa’s or Paulino’s, both being held without bail in New York, where they are allegedly cooperating with U.S. prosecutors.
Paulino’s case was so serious that the U.S. Witness Protection Program whisked off his entire immediate family and other relatives, around 12 people, away from the Dominican Republic on fears of underworld reprisals.
But thus far, Figueroa’s is considered the country’s biggest drug trafficking and money laundering case, given the money amount, the number of people involved and the scope of the operations.