Baez Figueroa, tearful and happy, after probation order

Santo Domingo.– After five years and nine months in prison, serving a 10-year prison sentence for the collapse of the Baninter bank, Ramon Baez Figueroa was favored yesterday with probation on a ruling by San Cristobal Sentencing judge Willy de Jesus Nunez.

After hearing the decision, the former banker could not help his excitement, and declared himself "completely" happy. But the tears wet his face when he spoke of the time spent behind bars. "It was very painful, especially with my family, my father and myself," he said.

As a message to young people, Baez Figueroa said that the spiritual is above the material, and asked Dominicans to let him rejoin society. He recalled that during the years he served in prison his behavior was "excellent."