Since January 28 fugitives wanted in the U.S. surrender

Santo Domingo.- Some 28 Dominicans wanted in extradition by the United States have surrendered to face charges there, from a total of 40 requested since January.

The National District 2nd Criminal court has been processing the fugitives who sign the voluntary extradition, with Melvin Antonio Duarte, 37, is the latest to waive proceedings to face charges of defrauding the in U.S. government out of more than US$15 million.

According to Justice Ministry Extraditions Dept. director Gisela Cueto, of 40 Dominicans wanted by the U.S., only five were taken before the Supreme Court Criminal Chamber, made at the request of the U.S. embassy.

The U.S. embassy withdrew the request to extradite four Dominicans, on the lack of evidence to process an indictment in local courts, while three requests are pending Supreme Court rulings.

More than 230 Dominicans have been extradited to the U.S. since 1998, on charges of drug trafficking, murder, fraud, money laundering, rape and other crimes.

The year in which the Supreme Court authorized the most re extraditions was in 2005, former Army captain Quirino Paulino among them.