Embattled judge grants bail to beleagued surgeon

Santo Domingo.- Embattled National District judge Margarita Cristo Thursday night set bail at RD$500,000 to release controversial plastic surgeon Edgar Contreras, again charged with malpractice by one of his many patients.

Pedro Jacobo, attorney for the plaintiff Rosemary Batista said his client paid Contreras RD$160,000 for several procedures and accused him of malpractice and failure to carry out the operations.

The indictment says Contreras conducted plastic surgery on Batista on September 19, 2013, in their Contreras clinic located on the Street 5, high of Arroyo Hondo II, Distrito Nacional.

Among the procedures figured a “belly tuck,” breast enlargement, liposuction and others in the neck, buttocks, and arms.

Contreras has been charged of wrongful death in at least three occasions, but has yet to be sentenced to serve prison time.

For her part, Cristo faces allegations of taking bribes from a convicted drug trafficker.