ARTICLE - ARISTIDE - INVESTIGATION?

INITIATION OF INVESTIGATION ON JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE?
(Haiti Libre) -

A record of an initiation of investigation, containing several serious charges against former President Aristide, the Aristide Foundation for Democracy, and former officials of his government, was filed by the Commissioner of the Government to the cabinet of an investigating judge in order to open an investigation, and take necessary action. This record would have, according to several sources, have been introduced by the Haitian government (the Central Unit of Financial Intelligence (UCREF))

"...We are aware that since Friday, a record has been officially handed over to the cabinet of instruction and that it is in the hands of Judge Mimose Janvier..." declared Mr. Newton Saint-Juste, one of the lawyers of former President Aristide. Adding "[...] there are two folders; there is a folder for Mr. Aristide and the other is for the Foundation. In the folder for President Aristide, we are talking about drug trafficking, subtraction of public funds, extortion, and malfeasance [...] When we look at the first elements, we say quickly that this is a folder for the gallery, which will waste the time of justice, because it is clear that when you want to pursue an official for subtraction or misappropriation of public funds, there must be a judgment from the Courts of Auditors and Administrative Disputes. In this folder that judgment does not exist [...] It's a folder that has been done so precipitated [...] it's a political nuisance [...] For about 2 to 3 weeks we have learned that pressure is being made at the level of the UCREF to have a record quickly, to send it to the prosecutor's office, and return it to to the cabinet of instruction. We were aware of all that [...] We are waiting to see what action the judge will pose, we will develop our strategy. We must say that we are not alone on the issue, there are Mr. Camille Leblanc, Mr. Mario Joseph ... [...]" adding, "no individual has filed a complaint against Mr. Aristide so far ..."

Without denying the existence of this record against the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Pierre Michel Brunache categorically denied Monday the rumors that circulated yesterday Monday, in some Haitian media, saying that two warrants had been issued against the former President.

Official denial of the Minister of Justice :
"The Ministry of Justice and Public Security would like to make a formal denial to the rumors that two warrants were issued against the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. While affirming his respect for the independence of the judiciary and the equality of all before the law, the Ministry invites the population in general and the press in particular to not rely on fanciful rumors, likely to harm the process of establishing the rule of law, and the policy of national reconciliation advocated by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Joseph Michel Martelly".

Mer. Michel Pierre Brunache
Minister of Justice and Public Security

A reminder for our readers, that following a complaint (filed), the judge in charge of the investigation of the record, opens an investigation after which he decides, with the facts and evidence, if there is a matter(s) to prosecute or not, ... the person(s) referred to in the complaint.