Judges ´sold rulings´ interrogated, face 20 years

Santo Domingo.- In handcuffsresigning judge Francisco Arias was escorted Wednesday morning to the Justice Ministry’sAnticorruption Office (Pepca) for questioning, under heavy guard.

He arrived at 10am in custodyof the Special High Risk Unit and was whisked into an office for interrogation.

Arias, with a copy ofthe Constitution in hand, kept silent at all times.

The defendant, who hadresigned as a member of the powerful Judicial Council, was sent to three monthsof pretrial detention at Najayo prison, indicted on charges of selling courtrulings.

Codefendant and former judgeAwilda Reyes, who is also being held, was questioned yesterday, after which thePepca said there are serious indications implicating both judges, who face aslong as 20 years in prison in found guilty.

Hearing on the 20th

The 3rd AppellateCourt Criminal Chamber set the next hearing for January 20, when Arias and Reyeswill seek to revoke the ruling which sent them to prison.