(8 Jan 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Port-au-Prince - 8 January 2024
1. Various of police, media, people outside the courthouse
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Port-au-Prince - 18 March 2019
2. Zoom in of Former Haiti Prime Minister Henry Ceant seated during the session of the Chamber of Deputies
3. Members of the Chamber of Deputies raising their hands to vote in favor of dismissing Ceant
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Port-au-Prince - 17 December 2014
4. Various of Former Haiti President Michel Martelly (blue shirt) walking out of conference hotel room hotel after meeting with opposition leaders
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Port-au-Prince - 14 January 2015
5. Various of Haiti's nominated prime minister Evans Paul sitting down before interview in Haiti prime ministerial residence
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Port-au-Prince - 27 March 2019
6. Various of Jean Michel Lapin, former Haiti's Prime Minister, speaking at the podium at a news conference at the presidential offices
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Port-au-Prince - 14 January 2011
7. Various of Jean Henry Ceant, former Haiti Presidential Candidate for Renmen Ayiti Party
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Port-au-Prince - 8 January 2024
8. Various of car of former Haiti Prime Minister Claude Joseph arriving at courthouse
9. Media scrambling around Claude
10. SOUNDBITE (Haitian Creole) Claude Joseph, former Prime Minister of Haiti:
"Judge Al Duniel Dimanche invited me as part of the investigation of the CNE equipment (National Equipment Center)."
11. Claude entering the courthouse
12. Police officers and car departing courthouse
STORYLINE:
A judge in Haiti has issued arrest warrants for more than 30 high-ranking officials accused of government corruption, including numerous former presidents and prime ministers.
The warrants, issued on Friday and leaked on social media over the weekend, accuse the officials of misappropriation of funds or equipment related to Haiti’s National Equipment Center.
The center is responsible for using heavy machinery for tasks such as building roads or clearing rubble, especially after earthquakes.
Among those named are former presidents Michel Martelly and Jocelerme Privert, as well as former prime ministers Laurent Lamothe, Jean-Michel Lapin, Evans Paul and Jean-Henry Ceant.
None of those named in the arrest warrant could be immediately reached for comment, although Privert and Lapin issued statements denying the allegations.
No one has been arrested in the case.
No further details about the investigation were immediately available.
Judge Al Duniel Dimanche has requested that those accused meet with him for questioning as the investigation continues.
The judge could not be immediately reached for comment.
It is common for Haitian government officials accused in a criminal or civil case to ignore arrest warrants or requests for questioning and face no punishment as they accuse judges of political persecution.
It is also rare for any high-ranking Haitian official to be charged with corruption, let alone face trial.
Local newspaper Le Nouvelliste obtained a copy of a statement issued by Lapin in which he says that he was never officially notified of the arrest warrant.
He also said that at no time during his 32-year political career did he ever become involved with the National Equipment Center.
Privert issued a statement accusing the judge of acting maliciously and thoughtlessly.
Former Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who is not named in the arrest warrant, said he met with the judge on Monday in case he could help with the case.
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