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Dominican judge orders prison for 7 accused in $250 million government corruption scheme

On Sunday, Judge Rigoberto Sena Ferreras ordered more than a year of preventive prison for seven former government officials as authorities investigate a corruption case at the National Health Insurance agency in the Dominican Republic.
Authorities allege the scheme involved Santiago Hazim Albainy, former executive director of the National Health Insurance agency appointed in August 2020, who is accused of leading the scheme and accepting more than $31 million in bribes from representatives of medical groups.
At least 10 people have been arrested in the probe, including Santiago Hazim Albainy, and suspects face charges of collusion, bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Three other people including Eduardo Read Estrella, businessman, and two private-sector executives were placed under house arrest on Sunday, and prosecutors were given eight months to finalize their investigation.
Judge Rigoberto Sena Ferreras described the conduct as `high treason against the nation`, and Mirna Ortiz called it `the most serious corruption operation that the Public Prosecutor's Office has presented to date`.

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