Ramón Tapia Espinal

Ramón Tapia Espinal (March 29, 1926 – March 24, 2002) was a lawyer and political figure from the Dominican Republic. He served as Secretary of Industry and Commerce and Secretary of State under President Rafael Bonnelly during the Council of State (1961–1963), which governed following the overthrow of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1961.[1]

Tapia Espinal was born in La Vega Province. After serving in Bonnelly's government, he became a member of the Triumvirate, a three-man civilian executive committee established by the military following the overthrow of President Juan Bosch in 1963. He initially served alongside Emilio de los Santos and Manuel Enrique Tavares Espaillat, and later with Donald Reid Cabral and Espaillat.[2] He resigned from the Triumvirate in 1964 and was succeeded by Ramón Cáceres Troncoso.[3]

In 1987, he was appointed by President Joaquín Balaguer to represent the Dominican government in prosecuting former President Salvador Jorge Blanco on corruption charges.[4][5][6] In 1988, Salvador Jorge Blanco was found guilty in absentia of corruption, sentenced to 20 years in prison, and ordered, along with his associates, to pay fines totaling up to $17.3 million. This verdict marked the first time a Dominican head of state had been convicted of corruption.[7][8]

In 1997, Rumbo magazine named him one of the 25 most powerful and influential people in the Dominican Republic.[9]

He died in Santo Domingo and was buried on March 26, 2002, at Christ the Redeemer Cemetery, where his eulogy was delivered by Dominican lawyer Marino Vinicio "Vincho" Castillo Rodríguez.

References

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  1. ^ Bartlow Martin, John (1966). Overtaken by Events. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company. pp. 90, 279, 584, 637, 752. ASIN B0006BO2E8.
  2. ^ Halper, Sam (1963-10-18). U.S.-Backed Reform Flops as Bosch gets the Bounce. Life Magazine.
  3. ^ Martin, John Bartlow (1966). Overtaken by Events. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company. p. 637. ASIN B0006BO2E8.
  4. ^ Moya Pons, Frank (1998). The Dominican Republic: A National History. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 424. ISBN 1558761918.
  5. ^ Tapia Espinal, Ramon. "Proceso Salvador Jorge Blanco".
  6. ^ Tapia Espinal, Ramon. "Proceso Salvador Jorge Blanco".
  7. ^ AP. "Dominican Ex-Leader Convicted".
  8. ^ Treaster, Joseph. "Convicted Dominican Ex-Leader Going Home". New York Times.
  9. ^ "Poderosos e influyentes de R.D.". Rumbo (154): 53–54. 13 January 1997.
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