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
Jameson Taillon comes off the injured list and pitches Cubs to 8
Sydney police officer praised for stopping alleged shopping mall attacker
Chinese new energy industry contributes to global green, low
'We simply cannot afford to': Hawke's Bay leaders desperate for cyclone
Google is combining its Android software and Pixel hardware divisions to more broadly integrate AI
Scammers pose as police officers in attempt to get financial information
Where Baltimore bridge investigation goes now
SpaceX confirms loss of rocket at end of third test flight
5,000 flee military raids on villages in Myanmar’s Sagaing region — Radio Free Asia
Chinese new energy industry contributes to global green, low
Erling Haaland is a doubt for Man City's FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea
National candidate heads to easy victory in Port Waikato by