Resort town’s ex mayor ‘embezzled’ RD$20M+: Indictment

Santo Domingo.- Justice Ministry Anticorruption Dept. (Pepca) director Laura Guerrero on Wednesday unsealed the indictment charging former Las Terrenas, Samaná mayor Jose Mercedes Martinez, his wife Basilia Castillo and former treasurer Willis Alberto Viloria with embezzling more than RD$20.0 million.

She said the group committed conspiracy, embezzlement and breach of trust, among other crimes, in violation of several articles of the Dominican Penal Code.

Guerrero said an investigation and an Accounts Chamber audit from 2006 to 2014 found that the accused embezzled more than RD$20 million of taxpayers money though irregular purchases at the hardware store FERRE-MAS, owned by Castillo.

Among other alleged irregularities the prosecutor says payroll checks were written without signatures and kickbacks were received in exchange for contracts. “It was also established that the mayor awarded works without call for tenders in clear violation of Law 340-06 on State Procurement and Contracts , proving that it was to benefit certain businesses. "