Three of the women injured in the store collapse in La Vega affirm that repair work was being carried out

Santiago, DR.
Three of the injured women trapped for several hours under the rubble of the collapse of the R&S MultiMuebles store, located in La Vega, are part of the testimonial evidence presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the request for coercive measures against the owners of the company.

According to the accusing body, Jessica Bueno Reinoso, María Arielina Hernández Fernández, and Madelyn Mercedes Abreu Brito were interviewed about the collapse of the building, and they narrated “that repair work had been being carried out in the premises for several days.”

They also stipulate that “the defendants, being the owners of the commercial entity and the building, are the ones who had the active duty to follow the regulations at the time of carrying out or allowing the performance of any construction or modification work.” According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, this could represent a presumption or danger of flight.

During the hearing of the coercive measure yesterday, Saturday, the judge of the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services (OJSAP) of the Palace of Justice of La Vega imposed an impediment of exit and periodic presentation against Jesus Maria Sanchez Lantigua and Jorge Alberto Rosario Marte, owners of the store.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, both are accused of omissions and non-observance of the General Regulation of Buildings and Processing of Plans, as well as involuntary manslaughter after executing the “demolition and modification, without having received the construction license from the competent authorities.”

Sánchez Lantigua and Rosario Marte were arrested last Tuesday by court order in one of their offices on Pedro A. Rivera Avenue.