BRIEFS. judicial

Charges reinstated against officers

A judge has overturned a lower court ruling and allowed a criminal case against several members of the Institutional Protection Service accused of assault to continue.

The ruling was issued by Second Court Judge Wilfredo Sáenz, who reversed a decision issued by the 15th Circuit Criminal Court last June. Sáenz ruled that the members of the service, Eric Espino, Omar Berrío and Jorge Peralta, as well as director José Gómez, should be investigated for their actions in handling a protest in front of the presidential offices in June 2007.

That protest was held by relatives of people who died of diethylene glycol poisoning. The criminal investigation is focused on the actions of the officers in dispersing the crowd.

In his decision, Sáenz said the lower court judge erred in dismissing the charges, and ordered the case to proceed.