14 arrests as Dominican Republic-Odebrecht case explodes(Update)

Santo Domingo.- The case of Odebrecht’s admitted bribes exploded on dawn Monday, with the arrests of several government officials and at least one business leader.

Arrested thus far:

Finance minister Temistocles Montas, Santiago senator Julio Cesar Valentin, PRM party senior leader Alfredo Pacheco, opposition party (PRM) president Andres Bautista, PRM senior leader Ruddy Gonzalez, former CEO of the State-owned Electric Utility (CDEEE) Radhames Segura,business leader Angel Rondon,former Aqueducts Agency (Inapa) director Alberto Holguin, former Public Works minister Victor Diaz Rua, the attorney Conrado Pittaluga, business leader Maximo D’Olio, contractor Bernardo Pichardo, among  others whose names have yet to surface.

Outlet elnuevodiario.com.do reports that a SWAT began rounding up the accused around 7am, starting with Rondon at the highrise, Torre Caney.

The most ironic detention was that of Cesar Sanchez, a member of the very commission appointed by president Danilo Medina to investigate the alleged ballooned cost of the  Punta Catalina power plant to over US$2.1 billion, being built by Odebrecht. Sanchez was also the CEO of the CDEEE.

The detainees are being escorted to the jail at the courthouse of Ciudad Nueva, downtown Santo Domingo.

More info as available….