Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Feb 15, 2010 / 16:52 pm
Last week, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, expressed disappointment in his country's court system calling it “an embarrassment that drug lords operate at will in the Dominican Republic.” He added that “many military leaders and judges are making a mockery of the Dominican people” by releasing criminals who were jailed for various felonies.
The cardinal made his statements during a Mass for doctors, nurses and patients at the Salvador Gautier Hospital.
After pointing out that there are many factors “involved in court decisions to release criminals,” Cardinal Rodriguez underscored that the influence from different international organizations on Dominican criminal law need to be reviewed.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “it is an embarrassment that these bandits are taking over the country with the support of many military leaders and judges.”
In comments last month, Cardinal Rodriguez described the “questionable rulings” by Dominican Republic judges as “painful,” especially with the difficulties the country is facing following Haiti's January 12 earthquake.