Top prosecutor tries to slip out of sticky wicket

Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Francisco Dominguez on Thursday said to really fight corruption, the justice system can’t be halted by hierarchies, political sectors or cronyism with those in power, which give rise to a climate of impunity and indifference when faced with the facts.

The official’s statement comes amid a deluge of rebuke from the opposition as well as members of the ruling PLD party, who accuse Dominguez of stepping away from prosecuting the alleged corruption case of senator Felix Bautista, one of ex president Leonel Fernandez’s closest collaborators.

The country’s top prosecutor said the war on corruption at all levels, as well as not allowing impunity for criminal actions, is his greatest commitment, which he affirms will always assume, in adherence with due process in every case.

"The fight against corruption can not be tackled in the media or in response to particular pressures. We have a serious fight against this scourge, within which there are processes to follow so at the end, the cases can get proper support and implemented to stand, and to make this possible, we must begin serious and passionless investigations, otherwise we will not move in that direction," Dominguez said.

He called on the members of the judiciary to assume their roles in each and every case, always in compliance with the law, so that together with the prosecutors, "we can restore confidence by sending a clear message that we exercise a serious and forceful role against impunity and corruption, it’s the only way to build and strengthen justice, and that’s our duty."