SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The chief prosecutor in the Dominican Republic says he's stripping wealthy prison inmates of perks that have included laptops, TVs and air conditioning in their cells.
General Prosecutor Francisco Dominguez says it's unacceptable that prisoners such as convicted bankers and drug lords should have such things while other inmates don't.
It is the first time that the Caribbean nation has acted against a longtime tradition of allowing certain inmates special treatment.
Dominguez notes most of the special inmates were convicted of crimes that "allowed them to amass great financial fortunes with which they bought not only impunity, but certain benefits as well."
The high-profile inmates also are held separately from other prisoners, but Dominguez hasn't said whether he will consider moving those inmates into the general population.
