Title: Mass Arrests of Ex-Ministers and Former Government Officials in Dominica: Largest Corruption Case in Country’s History

Overview

In a striking development, twenty individuals, including several ex-ministers and high-ranking government officials, were arrested earlier this week in the Dominican Republic on corruption-related charges. This investigation advances an ongoing probe into the administration of former President Danilo Medina, marking the largest corruption case in the country’s history.

Arrested Individuals

Former finance and public works ministers
Medina’s ex-chief of staff
Ex-comptroller general
Government’s director of casinos

All were charged on March 21 with embezzlement, bribery, falsifying public documents, and illicit campaign financing on an “unprecedented scale,” according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Ongoing Investigations

Since President Luis Abinader took office in 2020, investigations into Medina’s government ministers, security force officials, and close family members have been rampant. Some key figures include:

Two of Medina’s siblings
His former attorney general

Allegations Against Medina

The investigation, involving a 2,100-page indictment, accuses Medina of directly instructing top officials to find illicit sources of financing for political campaigns in 2019 and 2020. Alleged practices involved:

Charging the state for debts related to construction projects, expropriation or land sales
Creating fake invoices or proof of payments

Funding of Gonzalo Castillo’s Campaign

Some of these funds were reportedly used to finance the unsuccessful campaign of Gonzalo Castillo, the 2020 presidential candidate of Medina’s Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). The scheme allegedly involved top figures such as:

Then-Finance Minister Donald Guerrero

Guerrero authorized armored trucks to deliver cash directly to an associate, Mimilo Jiménez, who then handed over cash-stuffed suitcases to Castillo. Castillo, who was also arrested, was not aware of the funds’ origin, the indictment alleges.

Pressure on Medina

The arrests come amid increasing pressure on Medina as more of his former officials face serious corruption charges, potentially implicating the former president himself. Abinader maintains his reputation as an anti-corruption crusader but corruption allegations against some of his top officials have raised concerns within the sitting government.