Dominican prosecutors seek four more months to charge Hazim in Senasa fraud

The Dominican Republic's Public Ministry has requested a four-month extension to file formal charges against former Senasa director Santiago Hazim and nine other defendants in an alleged fraud against the state health system. The request was submitted to coordinating judge Kenya Romero by Wilson Camacho and Mirna Ortiz, and will be heard by Judge Deiby Timoteo Peguero. Source: infobae

The case

Prosecutors allege the network operated between 2020 and 2025, defrauding the state of more than 19,000 million pesos (about USD 325 million), up from an earlier estimate of 15,000 million. Source: listindiario The defendants face charges including coalition of officials, embezzlement, bribery, and money laundering. Source: listindiario

Coercion measures

Five defendants remain in preventive detention at Las Parras prison, while others are under house arrest. Three defendants—Eduardo Read Estrella, Cinty Acosta Sención, and Heidi Mariela Pineda Perdomo—have admitted to paying bribes to Hazim and other Senasa officials. Source: infobae Additionally, Ángel Luis Guzmán Vásquez was arrested later and is also held in Las Parras. Source: diariolibree

Negotiations and next steps

Five of the ten defendants are in talks for plea agreements, according to Listín Diario, which cites the strength of the evidence. Source: infobae The case remains open, with other individuals and entities under investigation. Source: listindiario Meanwhile, the Chamber of Accounts has delivered its audit of Senasa to the PEPCA, but the final report will only be sent after defendants respond to findings within 45 days. Source: eldiado