Spanish
Santo Domingo.- Following questions about the alleged link between judge Fátima Veloz and businessman Antonio Espaillat, accused in the Jet Set case, lawyer Félix Portes stated that if true, "prudence advised her to abstain" from knowing about coercion.
When consulted by phone by De Último Minuto, Portes indicated: "If said link is real, prudence advised that he abstain to avoid this noise because impartiality not only demands the absence of real prejudice, but also the appearance of justice." In that sense, he recalled the TC/0099/13 sentence of the Constitutional Court establishes: "It is not enough for the judge to be impartial, he must also appear to be so."However, the jurist does not believe that the alleged link has influenced his decision regarding the coercive measure consisting of RD$50 million, a travel ban, and periodic reporting against Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, because he considers her a "serious, responsible, prepared, and honest" person.
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This Saturday it has been revealed that magistrate Veloz is the daughter of businessman Ernesto Veloz, a recognized partner of the influential hotelier Frank Rainieri. The latter, according to corporate records, maintains business relationships of the Grupo PuntaCana with the accused Antonio Espaillat, which has raised alarms about a possible conflict of interest.
It is recalled that the Public Ministry filed charges against the Espaillat brothers for their responsibility in the disaster that left 236 dead and more than 180 injured, alleging gross negligence, irregularities in the remodeling permits, and structural failures related to the installation of equipment on the roof.
