Overview:
Antoine Jean Simon Fénélon, director basic of Haiti’s Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE), and 9 employees members stay in custody as authorities examine an alleged passport trafficking community. Arrested on March 23, they’re suspected of fraudulently issuing journey paperwork, elevating issues over corruption and nationwide safety.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Officers from Haiti’s Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) are persevering with to query the nation’s high immigration official Antoine Jean Simon Fénélon, director basic of the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE), and 9 different workers, days after their arrest in an alleged passport fraud scheme, because the group stays in custody and the investigation widens.
Fénélon and Jean Osselin Lambert, head of DIE’s know-how division, have been detained on March 23 together with eight employees members, in reference to what authorities describe as a passport trafficking community.
In a statement, the Haitian Nationwide Police (PNH) mentioned the arrests have been carried out on the request of the Port-au-Prince Prosecutor’s Workplace. A justice of the peace additionally sealed the passport manufacturing workplace as a part of the investigation.
“The suspects have been instantly taken to the Port-au-Prince Prosecutor’s Workplace to be questioned,” the PNH mentioned. “Following this listening to, they have been handed over to the DCPJ for additional investigation to determine the details.”
Authorities haven’t but introduced formal prices. Fénélon and the opposite suspects stay in custody as investigators proceed their inquiry earlier than figuring out whether or not the case will probably be dismissed or referred to an investigative choose for additional inquiry.
“We don’t but know the extent of every suspect’s involvement,” mentioned Port-au-Prince Prosecutor Fritz Patterson Dorval. “That is an ongoing investigation. We’re delegating authority to the DCPJ to query all personnel, after which the case will probably be despatched to us.”
The case has renewed issues over corruption and the integrity of Haiti’s passport system, lengthy criticized for weak oversight.
Fénélon’s lawyer, Iswick Théophin, denounced the arrest as politically motivated, saying he has not been formally knowledgeable of the fees. He additionally questioned the prosecutor’s resolution to delegate authority to the DCPJ, arguing it lacks jurisdiction within the matter.
“They have been disadvantaged of their freedom,” Théophin advised local media. “It is a political maneuver to take away the director basic underneath the pretext of passport fraud.”
Recurring allegations and anti-corruption probe
The investigation provides to a sample of recurring corruption allegations inside Haiti’s passport system. In line with native media studies, together with Le Nouvelliste, the Ministry of the Inside — which oversees the DIE — alerted judicial authorities and supported an operation to uncover the alleged community. Investigators are specializing in the issuance of passports utilizing tax identification numbers (NIF) that don’t match candidates, notably for overseas nationals.
The case echoes a Might 2025 scandal involving ex-immigration director Stéphane Vincent. Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) alleged that, in lower than 4 months, Vincent licensed 556 passports with out required tax funds, inflicting an estimated $28,120 loss to the state.
The ULCC mentioned Vincent and several other officers used a fraudulent account underneath the alias “Fernando Victor” to validate functions with out cost processing. Regardless of suggestions for prosecution and sanctions, together with asset freezes, no prices have been publicly introduced. Vincent is believed to be in america.
The Haitian Community of Anti-Corruption Journalists (RHAJAC) mentioned the most recent case might contain charges of as much as $5,000 to expedite passports for Haitians and as a lot as $50,000 for overseas nationals. The Haitian Instances couldn’t independently confirm these claims.
RHAJAC warned the alleged scheme poses a severe nationwide safety threat, citing studies that passports might have been issued to people from neighboring nations and past.