Investigation into alleged media extortion structure headed by Ángel Martínez

Santo Domingo – The Public Ministry has intensified investigations into an alleged extortion and blackmail network that, according to preliminary reports, would be headed by the communicator Ángel Martínez, popularly known as “El Detective.” Authorities indicate that this structure allegedly used digital platforms to defame and exert pressure on public figures, with the intention of obtaining economic benefits. The network includes his son, "Ángel Eduardo Martínez Estévez;" the communicator Claudia Pérez, alias "La Tora;" retired general Rafael Percival Peña; the journalist "Fernando Peña;" Luis Alfredo Cabrera ("Kapullet") and "José Macarallo."

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Sources from the Public Ministry indicated that economic transactions have been identified between those involved, which reinforces the suspicions about the organized nature of the operation. This Sunday, Ángel Martínez was arrested for the second time after failing to comply with a summons from the Santiago Prosecutor's Office. Previously, he had been detained in Puerto Plata on May 26th after being declared in default for not attending a hearing in a lawsuit filed by the president of Indotel, Guido Gómez Mazara. Martínez faces multiple lawsuits for defamation, insult, alleged extortion, and cybercrimes, in accordance with the provisions of the Dominican Penal Code, Law 53-07 on High Technology Crimes and Offenses, and Law 61-32 on Expression and Dissemination of Thought. Among the plaintiffs are businessman Arnulfo de Jesús Gutiérrez Almonte, communicator Vargavila Riverón, former Vice Minister of Environment Milagros De Camps (to whom Martínez offered a public apology), and the current Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful. Investigations are ongoing.