ARTICLE - GOV'T PROSECUTOR RESIGNS

NEW GOVERNMENT PROSECUTOR RESIGNS CITING PRINCIPLES
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - The head of prosecutions in Port-au-Prince, Government Commissioner, Lionel Constant Bourgoin, resigned on Saturday after 26 days on the job. The government will have to find its fifth prosecutor in 6 months.

The government prosecutor sent his letter of resignation to Justice Minister Pierre Michel Brunache following bans imposed on the former members of the CEP, learned Haiti Press Network.

The former head of the prosecutions refused to arrest members of the former Provisional Electoral Council dissolved by presidential decree on December 30.

"Yes, I delivered the letter of resignation. I can not discredit myself in the case of Gaillot Dorsainvil. People want to pervert my vision of the office of commissioner of the government," said Mr. Bourgoin.

The magistrate considers that the restrictions that the government wants to impose on members of the CEP undermine their freedom as they are without a warrant.

"We must get rid of old practices that are to arrest people for everything," responded Commissioner Bourgoin, a former director of the Justice Academy.


Mr Pierre Michel Brunache
Minister of Justice and Public Security

In his office
I have the regret of presenting to you my resignation as Commissioner of the Government at the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince.

Since assuming office on Monday, December 5, I have continually acted on behalf of society to ensure the proper application of the law and respect for public order. This was for an effective public action and respectful of individual liberties.

Because of my deep convictions, fully aware of the extent of my mission, I can not be the armed wing of any authoritarian ... eager to establish its order.

With your understanding, I ask you, Mr. Minister, to accept my resignation.

Patriotically yours,
Lionel Constant Bourgoin
Government Commissioner
Near the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince

Lionel Bourgoin became the Government Prosecutor after leaving his position as Director of the School of Magistrates of the Judiciary, (EMA) where he led a 16-month training session, where out of 134 candidates, 20 were selected to become new judges.

Bourgoin's predecessor, Félix Léger was dismissed after 2 months for arresting Deputy Arnel Bélizaire (Delmas & Tabarre/Veye-Yo).

Léger's predecessor Jean Sonel Francois was dismissed after 2 months for summoning the former Minister of the Interior, Paul Antoine Bien Aime.

Francois' predecessor Harrycidas Auguste had been dismissed for his involvement in the man slaughter of a suspect in the BNC Chairman, Guiteau Toussaint, murder case.