embezzlement - Haiti Observer Blog

Claude Raymond Jr., a Martelly appointee, was recently installed as Director General of the Office of Immigration and Emigration (OIE), along with eight other Director Generals in September. Martelly, speaking at the induction ceremony, issued a challenge to the new officials, saying they could only ". . . deserve his confidence . . . " by living up to what the Haitian people asked of them as public servants.

Claude Raymond Jr., succeeded in losing Martelly's confidence almost immediately. Not long after his installation, he was detained by Dominican Republic police with a $3 million dollar stash, concealed in an envelope. Someone in the OIE had secret information about the embezzlement, and reported it to the Senate. Senator François Anick ordered an inspection of all briefcases conducted, passing between the borders of Caribbean countries.

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The narrative of Haiti's first family being investigated on corruption charges has just taken a new twist in an ever-widening net of conspirators plotting Martelly's downfall. Human rights attorney, Andre Michel, is representing Enold Florestal, a citizen who filed the complaint, accused First Lady, Sophia Martelly, and son, Oliver Martelly, with embezzlement of government funds. Florestal was arrested for his part in the killing of Frantzy Duverseau three years ago.

Michel claims Martelly government proxies bribed Florestal to withdraw the complaint. But he refused, and Judge Lamarre Belizaire, new on the case, pursued Florestal, and had him arrested. An outpouring of public condemnation against Belizaire made his task difficult. But he finally swore out a warrant to capture Florestal and his brother, Josue, incarcerating them for Duverseau's death.

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The Martelly-Lamothe government of Haiti seems to be all geared up against corruption. The government has openly declared war against corruption with the Unit for Combating Corruption (ULCC) already pursuing white collared criminals. The unit has arrested several fraudsters and put them in front of the court of law for justice. The government has made it clear that it will fight corruption on all fronts under all circumstances to ensure that the people of Haiti get their rights and that a bright future for the future generation can be secured.

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Jean-Claude Duvalier or Duvalier Junior or Baby Doc, the ex-dictator of Haiti and been put on trial for corruption. Antonio Jorge Ramalho, a political scientist from Brazil sees at an ex-president being put on trial as a historical event.

Duvalier Junior bequeathed his dictatorship from his father François Duvalier who was elected as the President of Haiti in 1957. François Duvalier or Duvalier Senior or Papa Doc turned out to be a dictator and tried to clean up the political opposition while suppressing the citizens of the country. He unleashed a criminal regime and before he died in 1971, he handed over the dictatorship to Duvalier Junior. Baby Doc ruled for another 15 years following the footsteps of his father and in a total of 29 years of dictator regime of the Duvaliers, an estimated 40 to 60 thousand people died because of torture, suppression and murder.

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Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide who was expected to be present today (Wednesday, January 9, 2013) to answer questions regarding complaints filed against him by former Fanmi Se Lavi residents and members of cooperatives for fraud and embezzlement did not happen quite like that.

Instead, the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince was the one who went to the residence of the former president.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was interviewed by Lucmane Delille was interviewed at the comfort of his own residence in Tabarre.

Did Lucmane Delille feel the pressure by the Lavalas supporters?

Several supporters of former President Aristide were present in front the office of Government Commissioner, Lucmane Delille, waiting to show support to their leader.

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Baby Doc Jean Claude Duvalier was the son of Papa Doc Francois Duvalier, the 40th Haitian president who was a famous dictator and had once proclaimed to be the President for life. Jean Claude Duvalier took over the throne after his father's death in 1971 at the age of 19 years. He remains to be the youngest president ever to have reigned over any state or country.

After his rise to power, Baby Doc Jean Claude Duvalier initiated some changes which were drawing Haiti closer to democratic leadership. He released some of the political prisoners who had been jailed, replaced the cabinet members with younger ones and made press quite independent. However, he was no better than his father as he pinned down any opposition and appointment of major government officials were still under his control. His mother, Simone, also offered vital political support to ensure that his son remained in power. To some extent, it worked out well as Baby Doc Jean Claude Duvalier managed to survive on the throne till 1986.

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Department of Justice prosecutors petitioned the Court on Tuesday, March 10th, invoking the Rule 35 motion, to request a reduction of Robert Antoine's four-year prison term he is currently serving, for embezzlment in a kick-back scheme, between Haiti Teleco and telecom firms, Terra and Cinergy, based in Florida. According to prosecutors, Antoine has "provided ample assistance to all law agencies," entitling him to a reconsideration of his sentence.

During the Court's hearing on the Rule 35 motion, the "particulars of the defendant's cooperation will be submitted at court," according to the petition.

Antoine, one-time overseer of Haiti Teleco's international operations, received bribes in excess of $1 million, in return for providing steep discounts in telephone rates and automatic contract renewals, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

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A ruling on the charges on former Haitian Dictator Jean Claude Duvalier was finally delivered. Government prosecutor Carves Jean, the judge responsible for investigating the case decided that Jean Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier is to face trial for corruption during the 15-year he was in power in Haiti. Duvalier is alleged to have embezzled between $300 million and $800 million of assets during his presidency.

Not a bad job for 15 years of work!

It was very surprising that the judge didn't think it was necessary for Jean Claude Duvalier to face trial for human rights abused that took place on his watch. We are talking about things like murder, disappearance, torture and other rights abuses for which several people alleged to have been the victims. Several Human Rights groups want Jean Claude Duvalier and some high officials in his government to go on trial for crimes committed in that period.

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The Haitian government is still plagued by issues such as bribery, kickback and embezzlement of funds. At least this is what the 2011 Global Corruption Report indicated.

"Bare Volè, bare Volè"

Haiti ranks 175th in the report, which puts the country among the most corrupt nations in the world for 2011.

The report also indicated that our neighbors are doing much better to fight corruption in their country. Bahamas ranks 21 for doing a good job the delivery of government services to its citizens. The united states ranks on 24th position.

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