BANÍ, Dominican Republic. – Yesterday’s hearing against the mayor, five councilpersons and the City Council president, together with the company Ciramar executives charged in the case of the Bani Dunes, became a political rally, which forced the Instruction judge to transfer the trial to the San Cristóbal Appellate Court, which will evaluate the refusal of the original judge to hear the case and appoint a new one.

Since early morning Monday angry groups of opposition PRD party members and City Council employees occupied the Courthouse’s outers areas, hallways and the chambers where the case was to be heard, chanting support for the mayor Nelson Camilo, and against the government, leading the prosecution to seek a recess of the hearing on grounds of safety.

Work at the City Council and other activities were paralyzed yesterday, as most city workers and many vehicles in the area of the Courthouse even snarled traffic on the Baní-Azua highway.

Landestoy, five council members, the City Council president and the Ciramar executives are accused to violating Law 64-00, in the sale and lease of more than 92,000 square meters of land in the protected Dunes at Las Calderas, Baní.

source: DominicanToday.com