Ex-Major League Baseball player Dotel has Dominican charge dismissed, freed on bail

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is escorted to court in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - A Dominican court released former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel on bail on Thursday after he spent nine days in detention over allegations of money laundering.

Dotel was arrested on Aug. 20 as part of a series of raids targeting what prosecutors have called the Dominican Republic's largest drug trafficking group.

Judge José Alejandro Vargas determined that the prosecution did not show sufficient evidence that Dotel was laundering money, dismissing that charge. Dotel still faces charges for illegally possessing several firearms at the time of his arrest.

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is released on bail by the court after being detained for nine days in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

The office of Attorney General Jean Alain Rodriguez said in a statement that they would appeal the decision to dismiss the money laundering charge and to release Dotel.

Dotel, 45, who played for 13 Major League Baseball teams from 1999 to 2013, gave a thumbs up after the hearing but he did not comment to reporters. His wife, Massiel Dotel, said: "I'm pleased the charges were dropped. Thank God justice was done."

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is released on bail by the court after being detained for nine days in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

(Reporting by Ezequiel Abiú López; editing by Julia Love and Grant McCool)

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is released on bail by the court after being detained for nine days in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is released on bail by the court after being detained for nine days in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is released on bail by the court after being detained for nine days in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel, who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run by Cesar Emilio Peralta, is released on bail by the court after being detained for nine days, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel (L), who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run Cesar Emilio Peralta, is escorted to court in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

Former MLB player Octavio Dotel (L), who is suspected of being involved in a drug trafficking gang allegedly run by Cesar Emilio Peralta, is escorted to court in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas