Acquittals in US$91M embezzlement cases stoke protests: Acento

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- Residents of San Francisco de Macorix (northeast) ratcheted their protests over the weekend against the acquittals handed down for the two “Felix the cats,” charged with embezzling City Council funds (mayor Felix Rodriguez), and from the State Works Supervisory Engineers Office (OISOE), then headed by senator Felix Bautista

Acento.com.do reports that San Francisco’s sprawling neighborhoods on Sunday afternoon resumed protests started last week, hurling burning tires and debris on the streets, demanding that Rodriguez resign.

Felix Bautista, senator for San Juan province and ruling party (PLD) organization secretary is accused of embezzling around RD$40.0 billion (US$90.0 million), money laundering, forgery and conspiracy to evade taxes.

Rodriguez, also senior PLD leader, and two codefendants are charged with embezzling over D$400.0 million.

General strike

On Monday the leftist and community organizations grouped in FALPO, among the head the anticorruption protests, announced a shutdown nationwide for April 14 and 15.