Dominican Republic beach-theft case set for May 16

Santo Domingo.- On May 16 a National District panel court will hear a defense motion to drop the criminal charges against former Dominican Agrarian Institute director Jaime Rodríguez Guzman, accused of forging titles to steal the lands surrounding the 7-kilomenter beach at Bahia de las Aguilas (southwest).

The 1st Collegiate Court on Thursday set the hearing for 9am in the case against Rodriguez, his wife and a brother, one week after the Supreme Court ruled that the lower court has the jurisdiction to hear and decide the motions.

The high Court’s ruling states that the defense motion cannot be a considered a prejudicial issue since it affects the entire process in the case which has lasted more than 16 years in litigation.