28 arrested for 250 million dollar fraud at Senasa, Dominican Republic
28 people were arrested in an operation against a RD$15,000 million fraud at the National Health Insurance scheme. Among those charged is the former executive director of Senasa.
Operation Cobra 2.0-A: 28 arrested for massive embezzlement from National Health Insurance scheme
Twenty-eight people were detained on Friday in the Dominican Republic as part of an investigation into fraud at the National Health Insurance scheme (Senasa), according to infobae.com. The alleged network is said to have diverted more than 15,000 million pesos—approximately 250 million dollars—from the country's leading health risk management administrator, which has more than seven million members.
The operation dubbed Cobra 2.0-A included 37 raids in Santo Domingo and in various provinces throughout the country. During the operations, the Public Ministry seized cash, vehicles, firearms and other assets.
Among the main defendants is the former executive director of Senasa, Santiago Hazim, who is in preventive custody for 18 months along with other accused parties. Hazim is a renowned orthopaedic surgeon who also served as national coordinator of external support movements for President Luis Abinader's political project, both in the 2020 electoral campaign and in that of 2024.
The Public Ministry detailed that the investigation, which dates back to December 2025, also involves former Senasa officials, doctors and other individuals. Those under investigation are attributed with the crimes of conspiracy of public officials, abuse of authority, organised crime, bribery, fraud against the State, embezzlement, forgery and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, the alleged scheme included the payment of bribes, the alteration of financial statements and the implementation of programmes without legal backing to divert public resources from the institution.
Following the detentions, President Abinader made a statement during a working visit to Puerto Plata. "This is a matter that is in the hands of the courts. But our desire is that it reaches its conclusion and that it is thoroughly investigated," he declared to journalists. The president noted that those who engage in acts of corruption must answer to the courts, and that it is the responsibility of the Public Ministry to deepen the investigations and determine accountability in accordance with due process.
Source: Google News DO — Crime