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DE RUEHDG #1065/01 2582128
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 152128Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3395
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 5045
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 2009
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 2972
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 2273
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 1106
RUMISTA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 001065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019 
TAGS: PREL CJAN CJUS DR
SUBJECT: ATTORNEY GENERAL PLEDGES CONTINUED COOPERATION ON 
EXTRADITIONS AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS 
 
Classified By: POLECON Counselor Alexander Margulies. 
Reasons:  1.5(b/d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Attorney General Radhames Jimenez Pena, in 
a 9/9 meeting with Charge, vowed that the Public Ministry 
would continue its strong cooperation with the USG on 
extraditions and criminal investigations.  He was proud of 
the advances in professionalism, prosecutorial independence 
and institutionalization made by his agency, crediting USAID 
technical assistance for contributing greatly to these 
accomplishments.  Charge thanked Jimenez for the Public 
Ministry's collaboration and emphasized our desire to 
continue assisting its reform program.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U)  The Attorney General was accompanied at the meeting 
by Assistant Attorney Generals Gisela Cueto (Extraditions and 
International Affairs), Frank Soto (Illicit Trafficking and 
Trafficking in Persons) and Hotoniel Bonilla 
(Anti-Corruption).  Charge was accompanied by USAID Director, 
POLECON Counselor and LEGAT. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Jimenez opened the meeting by expressing deep 
appreciation for USAID's technical assistance, which, he 
noted, contributed greatly to strengthening the Public 
Ministry as an institution, helping it develop a civil 
service career cadre (currently 668 career prosecutors) and 
the Prosecutorial Academy.  Proscutors are now hired on 
merit, he explained, and promoted on the basis of 
performance.  As evidence of this, the Attorney General 
pointed to the recent appointment of Yeni Berenice Reynoso 
Gomez, a 27 year-old female, as the new Chief Prosecutor in 
Santiago, the DR's second largest city.  (COMMENT:  We have 
been favorably impressed by Reynoso Gomez in our dealings 
with her.  END COMMENT). 
 
¶4.  (C)  Charge congratulated Jimenez on the Public 
Ministry's achievements, and noted that it faces significant 
challenges.  He then thanked the Attorney General for his 
cooperation on extraditions, agreeing with the AG's comment 
that,"there is no place to hide in the Dominican Republic." 
Jimenez said that his agency has its work cut out for it and 
expressed optimism that it is up to the task.  He pledged to 
continue making cooperation on extraditions a priority, 
adding that he discussed this as well as collaboration on 
narcotics investigations with U.S. prosecutors during a 
recent visit to New York. 
 
¶5.  (C)   Charge reiterated our gratitude for the GoDR's 
cooperation on extraditions, observing that the U.S. is 
working on the DR's request for the extradition of Jeffrey 
Alejandro Benscome Pena, although that case might seem to be 
progressing slowly through our judicial system.  Legat then 
provided an update on the status of that case, explaining 
that the defendant is engaged in his final appeal at the 
Federal Appellate Court level.  Jimenez said that he was 
satisfied with the USG's handling of this matter.  On our 
extradition requests the AG stated that, "No matter who it 
is, if the U.S. wants him and has the required documentation, 
then we will pursue" the extradition. 
 
¶6.  (C)  USAID Director asked what the Attorney General's 
priorities were for future assistance?  Jimenez replied that 
he was concentrating reform efforts on completing the Public 
Ministry's Institutional Integrity Program.  Charge stated 
that we hoped to continue to provide support for these 
reforms.  Assitant AG Soto made a plea for funding of the 
Ministry's model prison program, which envisions replacing 
the country's 32 penetentiaries with 12-13 new model prisons. 
 (COMMENT:  While prison reform is indeed a pressing need, it 
is not an area in which USG assistance would be practicable. 
USAID has rebuffed prior attempts, but, as this is one of the 
Attorney General's pet projects, we can expect further 
approaches in the future.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Charge commented on the recent seizure of USD 4.6 
million and other property traced to a fugitive AMCIT 
narcotrafficker.  Jimenez stated that the police are looking 
for him and that, given his nationality, if caught this 
individual can be expelled to the U.S. on illegal immigration 
grounds without having to go through the extradition process. 
 
¶8.  (C)  COMMENT:  USG agencies have an excellent working 
relationship with the Attorney General and his ministry. 
USAID's support of the institution is very appreciated and 
 
has clearly produced positive results.  The Charge's visit 
provided both parties with the opportunity to continue to 
build on these strong ties.  END COMMENT. 
LAMBERT