Tucanogate: Another businessman questioned; accused face a judge

Santo Domingo.- Anticorruption (Pepca) Laura Guerrero on Mondaysaid another businessman Arturo Balaguer,was questioned about the alleged bribe in the purchase of eight Super Tucano militaryaircraft, as the investigation into the Tucanogate scandal widens.

She said Balaguer came in the company of his lawyer MiguelValerio and a team of prosecutors immediately began the interrogation.

Last week Guerrero said Balaguer owns the company MagyCorp,which participated in the negotiation leading to the purchase of single-propplanes, “that served as a bridge for the entry of state funds that were used inthe purchase of aircraft.”

The Pepca investigation comes in the heels of thecorruption probe of top executives of Brazil plane-maker EMBRAER, headed by thatnation’s Federal Criminal Court in Rio de Janeiro.

Meanwhile, Mirabal province senator Luis Rene Canaan isexpected to appear in the Ciudad Nueva Courthouse in the coming hours. On Sundaythe lawmaker said in a statement that he was willing to face justice.

Questioned in the case thus far were former Defenseminister Rafael Peña Antonio; Air Force Col. Carlos Piccini and businessmenDaniel Aquino Hernandez and Daniel Aquino Méndez.