ARTICLE - GANG LEADER DEPORTED TO HAITI

GANG LEADER BERNARD "TI PON" MATHIEU DEPORTED TO HAITI
(Defend Haiti) -

MONTREAL - Canadian Immigration deported to Haiti gang leader Bernard Mathieu aka “Tipon” who was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Haitian-Canadian gang leader, Bernard Mathieu "Ti-Pon", was returned to Haiti two weeks ago, ... in spite of efforts to put off his eviction from Canada.

Last May, in a final attempt to prevent his return to his native country, Mathieu Bernard had used a Citizenship and Immigration Canadian program and raised humanitarian arguments. Since then, the 40 year old man was awaiting the decision of Canadian authorities.

However, the immigration officer in charge of his case took a decision that was unfavorable. Friday, October 15, his lawyer, Stéphane Handfield, pleaded on the phone and tried to convince a judge of the Federal Court to grant a stay, to no avail. Bernard Mathieu was returned to Haiti on Monday, October 17.

Mathieu did not have Canadian citizenship, but was a permanent resident. He was dismissed for serious criminality, because he was sentenced to a prison sentence of more than 10 years in Quebec.

Bernard Mathieu was considered the leader of the Pelletier Street gang, a network of importers and dealers of cocaine that had established its headquarters on this street in Montreal-Nord, and it was dismantled in 2004.

"Ti-Pon" was convicted three years later along with his accomplices. It was the first time that members of a street gang were convicted under the new provisions for this offense. Mathieu was released in April, but a few weeks later he was arrested by border services officers for deportation. He had to pay a deposit of $120,000 to be released pending the decision of the immigration officer.