Spanish
Santo Domingo.– Lawyer Miguel Valerio, defender of the Espaillat siblings, Antonio and Maribel, stated this Thursday that the coercive measure imposed by judge Fátima Veloz, consisting of an economic guarantee of RD$50 million, a ban on leaving the country and periodic presentation, is adequate and proportional, given that his clients have collaborated with the process and do not represent a flight risk.
“The original qualification is recklessness... here is an objective reality,” Valerio expressed after the hearing, highlighting that both the judge and the Public Prosecutor recognized that it is not a case of organized crime, but of possible negligence.“Mr. Espaillat is an honest person, with a calm profile, he works like you in the media, he is not going to flee”
You may be interested in: http://Ministerio Público apelará medida de coerción en caso Jet Set: “El tribunal no valoró la magnitud del daño”
The jurist also dismissed the accusations of alleged harassment of witnesses, noting that one of the accusers continued to interact with the defendants, which, in his opinion, dismantles the narrative of intimidation. He added that civil agreements have already been reached with at least 40 of the victims, which demonstrates a willingness to repair the damages caused. Valerio concluded his statement with a call to practice responsible journalism and avoid premature judgments: "We are in the investigation phase and it is up to the process to determine responsibilities. In the meantime, what is appropriate is to guarantee rights and act with objectivity."
