Dominican court postpones ruling on Jean Alain Rodríguez case extinction

The Second Collegiate Court of the National District has postponed until Monday, August 17, its decision on whether to accept the request to extinguish the criminal action against former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez, the main defendant in the Medusa corruption case. The ruling was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was delayed twice, first to 3:00 p.m. and then to the following Monday, without official explanation Source: Diario Libre. The court, presided over by Judge Claribel Nivar, will now decide on the defense's motion, which argues that the process has exceeded the maximum legal duration of four years Source: Listín Diario.

The arguments

The defense, led by Carlos Balcácer, argues that the case has lasted nearly six years, exceeding the four-year limit set by the Criminal Procedure Code. They claim that delays are attributable to the Public Ministry, citing two courts that ruled in 2023 that the delays were not the defendant's fault Source: Diario Libre. The defense also notes that Rodríguez spent four years in pretrial detention Source: Diario Libre.

In contrast, the Public Ministry, represented by Wilson Camacho and Mirta Ortiz, argues that the delays were caused by the defense's own dilatory tactics, including five consecutive recusals of prosecutors Source: Listín Diario. They contend that extinction is reserved for cases of inactivity, not complexity Source: Listín Diario.

Support and context

The College of Lawyers of the Dominican Republic (CARD) and other legal groups, including Dignidad Jurídica and the Unidad Jurídica Institucional, support the extinction request, arguing that institutional deficiencies should not be borne by the defendant Source: El Caribe. The case involves an alleged embezzlement of over RD$6,000 million and an indictment of 12,274 pages with 63 defendants Source: El Caribe. The court's decision is expected Monday at 9:00 a.m. Source: El Caribe.