Dominican judge upholds house arrest in Lobo corruption case

A Dominican judge has upheld house arrest for Bolívar Nicolás Fernández Espinal, a former security chief at state power distributor Edenorte, as part of the "Lobo" corruption case. The Seventh Court of Instruction of the National District, presided by Deiby Peguero, reviewed the measure on Thursday and denied Fernández's request to switch to periodic appearances and a financial guarantee Source: eldiado. In the same hearing, the court modified the bail payment method for businessman Quilvio Bienvenido Rodríguez González, allowing a surety bond instead of cash Source: diariolibree.

The case

The Lobo network is accused of demanding and receiving RD$108,080,359.92 in bribes to rig security service contracts across state institutions, including Inaipi, Senasa, and the electricity distributors Edenorte, Edeeste, and Edesur Source: eldiado. The defendants include retired Army Major General Carlos Ambrosio Robles Díaz, several colonels, and Rodríguez, owner of Senase security firm Source: diariolibree.

Discrepancies

Sources differ on the amount allegedly paid by Rodríguez: eldiado reports the total bribes as RD$108 million, while diariolibree states Rodríguez is accused of paying "more than 108 million" in bribes, and separately mentions Fernández collected over 35 million Source: eldiado, diariolibree.

What's next

The preliminary hearing is set for September 7 Source: diariolibree. The Public Ministry's accusation seeks to send all implicated to trial Source: eldiado.