A Dominican Republic journalist reported that security officers are in pursuit of the source who revealed to her that a Dominican senator financed part of the election campaign of Haitian president Michel Martelly, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Investigative journalist Nuria Piera reported that state intelligence officials raided homes and businesses in search of the information she used for the TV report The Route of Millions, that was broadcast on Saturday March 31. In the story she reported that Dominican Senator Félix Bautista gave more than $2.5 million to the Haitian president.
The journalist said that thus far she has only used one-tenth of the documents in her possession related to the properties and operations of the Dominican senator. While original copies have been destroyed, the journalist said she has copies stored in different locations, reported the site Diario Digital.
A Dominican Republic official said that the Governmental Anti-Corruption Department is investigating alleged irregularities in the construction companies of Bautista, a close ally of Dominican President Leonel Fernández, according to the Associated Press.
The Haitian president denied receiving money from the Dominican Republic politician. "If we had accepted money, it would not have been such a small sum," said Haitian President Martelly to the Le Nouvelliste newspaper.
