Overview:
At Cap-Haïtien’s Base Anti-Stress, two outsiders shocked locals by successful the lads’s Ludo and Domino titles, whereas hometown favourite Ronise Mézard saved the ladies’s Ludo crown, preserving some native delight.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Former Director Basic of the Nationwide Tv of Haiti (TNH), Gamall Jules Augustin, was taken into custody on Sept. 23 after a listening to earlier than investigators from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC).
He’s accused of embezzlement of public assets, abuse of workplace, illegal battle of curiosity, and falsification of official paperwork.
Augustin, an ally of former President Michel Martelly, served as head of TNH for 9 years. Workers and union representatives lengthy accused him of dismantling the establishment’s core buildings.
The state media staff’ union, SEME, had pressed for an investigation into his administration. Protests erupted when Augustin was appointed to a fee to restructure TNH, resulting in his eventual elimination underneath union stress.
In Might, ULCC summoned a number of individuals as a part of an inquiry into alleged corruption throughout Augustin’s management. That very same month, SEME’s Secretary Basic, André Frasmé, mentioned massive sums had been embezzled by Augustin and his finance chief, Harlem Michel.
Frasmé claimed that greater than 1.7 million gourdes or US $ 13 076,92 for interns vanished and one other 3.25 million gourdes or US $25 000 for gas purchases couldn’t be accounted for. He mentioned Augustin exaggerated the variety of TNH websites in operation to justify the bills.
In keeping with native media, Augustin additionally solid the logistics supervisor’s signature to purchase tools with out authorization and awarded contracts with out public bidding.
The ULCC has not but launched a full report on the case. For now, Augustin stays in custody on the Port-au-Prince prosecutor’s workplace, pending a choice on whether or not to launch him or switch him to an investigating choose.
Augustin’s arrest is yet one more in an extended line of corruption circumstances the ULCC has pursued since its creation in 2004. His detention follows the arrests of 4 authorities officers in Ouanaminthe on corruption expenses. ULCC has submitted almost 90 studies to prosecutors, however solely two circumstances have ever led to convictions.
Critics blame political interference, weak judicial follow-through, and continual underfunding for Haiti’s failure to deliver corrupt officers to justice.
Regardless of these setbacks, the watchdog workplace continues to flag corruption throughout state establishments. The rising record of high-profile probes involving former officers accused of looting public funds or aiding gangs.
Earlier this 12 months, former deputy Prophane Victor and former stable waste chief Magalie Habitant had been detained for alleged ties to legal teams.
On Aug. 2, former Senator Nenel Cassy was arrested on expenses of legal affiliation however was launched 17 days later, sparking outrage. The prosecutor who freed him was dismissed with out going through expenses.
On Aug. 16, the previous mayor of Arcahaïe, Rosemila Sainvil Petit-Frère, was detained by Haiti’s judicial police after her arrest within the Dominican Republic. She faces accusations of corruption and hyperlinks to gangs.
Worldwide sanctions have additionally been imposed towards former officers. On Sept. 22, the U.S. Department of State added to its sanctions list for corruption former deputy Arnel Bélizaire and ex-senator Antonio “Don Kato” Chéramy.
“This motion makes Belizaire, Cheramy, and their speedy household typically ineligible to enter the USA,” mentioned Tommy Pigott, Deputy Chief Spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy.
“This motion sends a transparent message: the period of impunity in Haiti is over!”
Different sanctioned figures embrace former President Martelly, ex-Speaker Gary Bodeau, and former Senator Rony Célestin, all accused of corruption and aiding gang exercise.
As for Augustin, underneath Haiti’s 2014 anti-corruption regulation, his allegations of crime are punishable by three to fifteen years in jail.