(3 Jun 2025)
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Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – 02 June 2025
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1. Various of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco entering the court accompanied by his legal representative Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación
2. Court officials entering the audience room with box containing the case files
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop:
“Thank you for the opportunity. I have listened to everything they say, and in the end, I will testify. But what I am going to ask is that justice be done. Thank you.”
4. Various of Franco in court
5. Various of lawyers listening to the points of the case
6. Wander Franco hugs a lawyer from his defense team and stands up, talking to another defense lawyer.
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación, Defense attorney of Wander Franco;
“If certainly the minor establishes that she did not have sexual relations with him (Wander Franco), which is the only infraction that can be applied to him? She denies it… The father withdrew the complaint…. So all that is there and more is just a lot of ballyhoo on the part of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
8. Exterior of Puerto Plata court building
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Claudio Cordero, prosecutor with the Public Ministry:
“What happens is that the dynamics of the court here in Puerto Plata are different from other courts, and it is not the testimonies that present the evidence. They must inform all the evidence through documents so that later, they can hear the testimonies to determine his (Wander Franco) participation. We started today and will continue on Thursday to avoid extending today’s hearing.”
10. Flags of Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata
STORYLINE:
The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco started Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl.
Franco told judges he wants justice to be done.
Franco has been charged in the northern province of Puerto Plata with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.
After an investigation that lasted over a year, Judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, ruled in September of 2024 that the evidence presented by prosecutors was worthy of the case moving to trial.
Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge in July of 2024 and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos or $17,000 to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse.
The mother of the minor has been charged with money laundering and was under house arrest.
Prosecutors say that the minor’s mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco.
During raids on the house of the minor’s mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.
“I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,” Franco told the judges on the first day.
He has otherwise refused to speak to the media.
Prosecutors introduced documents as pieces of evidence against the 24-year-old Franco during the first hearing, and added they will call at least seven witnesses in a trial that is expected to proceed on Thursday, Friday and next Monday.
Franco heard the charges against him.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in jail.
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