In The Face Of Rising Crime, Government Reiterates It Will Be Drastic Against Criminals

In light of the growth in crime in the nation, President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, once more made use of the fear of criminals when he urged them to turn themselves in on Saturday, Nov. 19, during an act against noise, or they would face punishment from the National Police, said reports.

It should be remembered that President Abinader had twice asked the convicts to turn themselves into the police. The latest occurred on June 2, when he oversaw the start of a citizen security operation that had the National Police and personnel of the Armed Forces participating in patrol activities.

A similar request was made by the president to the killers of Yulensky Batista Cuevas in Los Alcarrizos in 2020.

On that occasion, the president reaffirmed that the best thing for the culprits to do is to turn themselves in and was clear in declaring that his government will not accept such atrocities.

This Saturday, President Abinader said, "Those who have another decision to disturb peace and security will be confronted on any terrain."

Following these remarks, the police in La Vega reported the killing of a "recognized criminal" who was apparently facing a uniformed patrol when he was shot and killed. A suspected criminal who was wanted for the murder of a lieutenant colonel of the institution and was planning to face them in a cabin in the National District had already been killed by the National Police the day before.

"This is the well-known criminal, assailant of bank messengers, who was killed after a confrontation with the Police because there were 11 arrest warrants against him for the commission of multiple criminal acts, alias Chelo Chad is indicated as the criminal who had lottery bank messengers, having committed multiple armed robberies and deprived the workers of various lottery banks of their money," says a police press report from La Vega about the death this Saturday.

On the issue, Alejandro Estévez, a law, criminology, and security adviser said that the desperate message from the president is populist and dangerous.

A retired general of the National Police, who requested that his name be withheld, also considered President Luis Abinader's statements inopportune.

At least 12 people died in violent acts linked to crime in Santiago last week.