The Constitutional Tribunal has confirmed the acquittals in the Odebrecht case, declaring the appeal presented by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (PEPCA) inadmissible. Through the TC/0054/26 ruling, the high court brought an end to an attempt to reverse previous decisions by the Supreme Court of Justice in this corruption scandal that shook the country to its core.
The Odebrecht case arose from infrastructure contracts awarded to the Brazilian construction company between 2001 and 2014, worth an estimated $3.460 billion. Odebrecht admitted in 2016 to having paid $92 million in bribes in the Dominican Republic, according to confessions in Brazil and the US, affecting key political figures.
Confirmation of acquittals and grounds for the ruling in the Odebrecht case
PEPCA questioned violations of fundamental rights, but the Constitutional Tribunal concluded that no irregularities were evident. It examined the evaluation of evidence, the principle of equal procedural treatment, and the correlation between accusation and sentence, all of which were respected according to the ruling. The evidence was not sufficient to prove criminal responsibility in bribery, money laundering, and illicit enrichment, reaffirming the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.
Historical context of the Odebrecht case in the Dominican Republic
This process, one of the most emblematic corruption cases, involved former officials such as Ángel Rondón, accused of channeling bribes worth $92 million. In 2023, a court acquitted several defendants due to lack of sufficient evidence, a decision now confirmed. Experts like constitutional lawyer Servio Tulio Rincón highlight that the ruling strengthens judicial independence, preventing frivolous appeals.
Implications for the fight against corruption
- Strengthens pillars of the Dominican judicial system.
- Closes the path to reopen the Odebrecht case against acquitted defendants.
- PEPCA could appeal in international instances, according to analysts.
The ruling emphasizes that in the Odebrecht case, the accusations of multimillion-dollar bribery did not cross the proof threshold. Organizations like Transparency International point out that the Dominican Republic ranks 101 in their Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, with slight improvements post-Odebrecht. This judicial closure invites strengthening preventive mechanisms in public tenders.
The Constitutional Tribunal prioritized the right to a fair trial over political pressures, a vital precedent. In the Odebrecht case, the battle for truth continues, but with clear constitutional limits.
