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Prosecutors summon ex-Dominican president
by Jose P. Monegro

The Associated Press    Translate This Article
14 April 2005

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - Prosecutors on Wednesday summoned former Dominican President Hipolito Mejia for questioning about alleged links to a man accused of drug trafficking in the United States, a former presidential aide said.

Mejia, who left office after losing May elections, will be required to provide sworn testimony on Tuesday about his alleged relationship to former Dominican army Capt. Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo, the ex-aide said on condition of anonymity.

He said the summons was delivered to Mejia's home. A copy of the document obtained by The Associated Press said the former president must ``provide testimony and declare the truth of what he knows and be questioned'' about Paulino Castillo.

Santo Domingo District Attorney Jose Manuel Hernandez Peguero said Monday that prosecutors would investigate allegations of links between Mejia and the former soldier.

On Wednesday, Hernandez Peguero said he could not confirm or deny the authenticity of the summons, saying prosecutors have a policy of not divulging such information during investigations. Mejia could not immediately be reached for comment.

In February, Paulino Castillo was arraigned in U.S. District Court in New York on five drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The 44-year-old was extradited from this Caribbean country to New York the same month.

If convicted, Paulino Castillo faces a maximum life sentence. The former soldier has denied the charges through his attorney, Lawrence F. Ruggiero.

Prosecutors allege that starting in September 2003, Paulino Castillo headed an organization that smuggled cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela into the United States via the Dominican Republic. Cash proceeds were wired to Dominican bank accounts, prosecutors said.

Copyright©2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, braodcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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