Friday, April 6, 2012

ARTICLE - JACMEL - ONA SCANDAL - EMBEZZLEMENT

JACMEL SCANDAL ON THE EMBEZZLEMENT OF ONA FUNDS, THE INVESTIGATION IS STALLED
(Haiti Libre) -

Seven months after the financial scandal that erupted in the regional office of the National Old Age Insurance (ONA) of Jacmel, the result of the investigation conducted by the Directorate General of ONA since September 2011 seems to be filed in the cabinet... Initially, it was question of a diversion of 13 million gourdes to the Regional Directorate of ONA under the administration of Herno Jeudi, and his assistant Noël Hector. At last report, it is now 23 million gourdes...!

With this situation, several sectors of the city of Jacmel continue to react to the prolonged silence of the authorities of the country, and particularly those of the justice of Jacmel. For Serge Pierre Louis, the Spokesperson of the Regional Political Platform Progressive (PPRP), it is an obligation for the justice of Jacmel to arrest all the accomplices of this diversion that he calls a "financial crime". He expressed dissatisfaction with the way the authorities are handling this issue, and strongly denounces the Martelly Administration, who did nothing to fight against corruption in the public administration of the country and who continues to operate in the footsteps of his predecessors...

For his part, Vital Deslouches, the Spokesman of South-Eastern Front declared that only a divorce between President Martelly and some parliamentarians of the Southeast would lead to an investigation , indicating that these funds were diverted with the complicity of certain elected officials, and he expresses concern about the lack of impartiality of some members of the judiciary of the city; in this case, because of the lack of independence of the latter.

Meanwhile, Mr. Antoine Jean Férot, the Government Commissioner of Jacmel, continues to seek the assistance of the Unit for Combating Corruption (ULCC), so that it can conduct a thorough investigation, considering that the judges in this case, do not have sufficient expertise to support its work. The Commissioner said he sent a letter to the authorities of the ULCC, a few months ago, but nothing has been done so far...

Commissioner Férot has indicated that the case was transferred initially to Judge Frantz Elmorin, then to judge Immacula Jeannis Bazil on the order of Me Adeline Dougé, Dean of the court of first instance. Although the progress of the case remains unclear to many observers, the head of the prosecution is very confident on the path of this case.

In addition, he reported that a dozen warrants had been issued; but so far, no arrests had been made​​. Asked about the causes of non-execution of such warrants, Petit Jacques Onécifort, the Spokesperson of the Regional Police of the Southeast, has indicated that Hector Noël, Deputy Director of ONA was the only known person in this case, that the police could clearly identify among these warrants; stating that Noël Hector was heard in chambers for the inquiry and released on bail.

Can we believe the Spokesman of the PNH of the region, while several persons named in this misappropriation of funds are mostly employees of the ONA who reside in the city of Jacmel and move freely in the streets? Can we also believe the figures of the Commissioner who speaks of a dozen warrants issued, while a spokesman for the police reported only six to seven warrants? Many gray areas are added in this case.

Faced with this unfortunate situation, many citizens of Jacmel do not hesitate to describe as "a theater", the processing of this case; where 23 million gourdes were wasted at the level of the ONA regional office and asks the leaders of the Nation, to fulfill their responsibilities so that all light may be shed.

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