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
Hawaii Supreme Court chides state's legal moves on water after deadly Maui wildfire
Judge rejects Trump free speech challenge to Georgia 2020 election case
Second dog infected with rare parasite babesia gibsoni
Hong Kong lawmaker's petition opposing Gay Games is prejudiced, activist says
FedEx pledges $25 million over 5 years in NIL program for University of Memphis athletes
Russia election: Arrests for vandalism as ballot boxes targeted in Putin vote
VOX POPULI: Our anger must never cool over ‘vital’ political fund
Beijing confirms missing Taiwan publisher Li Yanhe is under national security investigation
Rangers option rookie Jack Leiter 1 day after he allowed 7 runs in his major league debut
VOX POPULI: Rooting for the Sendai killifish that survived the 2011 tsunami
History with Maple Leafs could help Bruins snap short playoff slump
So, you want to be an MP? These are the careers most likely to lead to Parliament