ARTICLE - JUSTICE - LAMBERT + BENOIT

JUDICIAL PROCEDURE AGAINST SENATORS LAMBERT AND BENOIT
(Haiti Libre) -

...Senator Lambert, after his resignation Thursday, March 8, from the Senate Inquiry Commission on Nationality, of which he was co-President with Senator Jean Charles Moïse, and a few hours before the press conference of President Martelly, had publicly announced publicly that important revelations would be made, which could cause in the coming hours, unrest in the country, and speaking of a "Kouri". These statements, followed by those of Senator Steven Benoît, ... on the a radio station of the capital, launching a public appeal for caution, and asking people to stay at home, have been the source of confusion, of anxiety, and panic among the population, who quickly deserted the streets of the capital. Several victims of various incidents following these alarmist statements, filed complaints against the two Senators.

Michel Brunache, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, confirmed having received a request from Jean Renel Sénatus, the Government Commissioner, asking him to send a letter to the President of the Senate in order to obtain the availability for justice of Senators Joseph Lambert (Southeast) and Steven Benoît (West), for having disturbed the public order. The Government Commissioner in his request, retains the charges of blackmail, incitement to violence, and disturbances to public order against the two elected senators.

The Minister declared "...I have indeed received a letter in this regard, from the Government Commissioner of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince, where he speaks of complaints that he has received. He mentions the events of Thursday, March 8, and he asks the authorization to be able to question those who would be responsible for all this [...] I intend to proceed with the request of the Government Commissioner, which means forwarding it to the President of the Senate [...]

...if the Government Commissioner receives complaints, he is obliged to respond to these complaints .... There is a procedure, ... the only instruction that I have to give him as Minister, is to follow strictly what the law says in these cases. I can not obstruct justice. It is primarily an approach of victims. The prosecution has responded, and the Ministry of Justice is obliged to respond. [...] There are people who estimate having been victims and it is their right to complain..."