Dominican Republic: 7 Accused In $250M Government Corruption Scheme

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – A judge in the Dominican Republic has ordered 7 former government officials held in preventive prison, as authorities investigate a massive $250,000 corruption case linked to the country’s national health insurance agency.

Prosecutors say the alleged scheme involved millions in bribes, with fake medical claims filed for dead patients and procedures never performed.

Former agency director Santiago Hazim is accused of leading the operation, which officials call the most serious corruption case ever brought by the state.

The judge has given prosecutors 8 months to complete the investigation.