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Alert

Authorities seize media empire belonging to prominent banker

(WAN/IFEX) - In a 19 May 2003 to Dominican President Hipólito Mejía, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed serious concern at the government's seizure of three newspapers, four television stations and 70 radio stations belonging to a prominent banker accused of fraud.

According to reports, on 15 May, authorities seized the media empire belonging to Ramón Baez Figueroa, two days after he was arrested on charges of masterminding a massive fraud that led to the US$2.2 billion collapse of his financial group. Federal agents took control of the media holdings, including the daily "Listin Diario", on the grounds that the authorities needed to protect assets said to belong to the bank.

It was not immediately clear whether several leading editors were dismissed or had resigned. However, the chief editor of "Listin Diario" was replaced by a former spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry.

Irrespective of the eventual outcome of the charges against Baez, WAN and WEF expressed concern that the seizure of the media businesses by the government may have a negative impact on press freedom in the Dominican Republic.