SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Dominican authorities on Friday ordered the arrest of a Dominican soldier accused of raping a 14-year-old Haitian girl while searching for immigrants in the country illegally near the upscale resort town of Punta Cana.
The soldier, identified as Paulino de la Cruz, is one of 15 members of the Dominican Air Force who accompanied immigration inspectors searching for immigrants in an area known as Verón, where migrants mostly from Haiti have settled.
The incident took place while the minor’s mother — who filed the complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office for Victims of Gender, Domestic Violence and Sexual Crimes — was not at home.
Authorities summoned the soldiers who participated in the immigration operation, so that the victim could identify the perpetrator. The victim identified the suspect “in a clear and precise manner,” according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
If found guilty of rape, the soldier could be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison.
The AP is not naming the girl’s mother in order to preserve her privacy.
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Gay 30 Rock actor Maulik Pancholy is canceled from anti
What you need to know about investing in a VCT and the 30% tax break
'Sorry, you can't board, off you pop': Traveller reveals how he was caught out by a post
HKFP Lens: Hong Kong press group announces winners of annual news photo contest
Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non
HK$3.5 billion Hong Kong Palace Museum opens after typhoon delay
Greece gives away 25,000 free holidays
A nation of explorers? Poll reveals that nearly a quarter of Brits have never even visited SCOTLAND
Worker electrocuted while doing maintenance on utility pole in upstate New York
Dividend hero SAINT's manager on the best shares for income and growth
Man who won primary election while charged with murder convicted on lesser charge
Tale of the state pension underpaid for 20 YEARS: This is Money podcast