|
|
|
Haiti - FLASH : Justice orders the arrest and imprisonment of former Senate Presidents, Youri Latortue and Joseph Lambert
23/06/2023 10:04:54
The investigating judge Marthel Jean-Claude in his closing order, in the context of the investigation file of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) concerning the postion of coordinator of the departmental office of Senator Youri Latortue, attributed to his 81-year-old mother Carmen Immacula Cantave (with a monthly salary of 350,000 Gourdes) in a contract approved by him (in 2017) while he was President of the Upper House compromising his impartiality and objectivity; retained in its order the indictment of the former Senator for "embezzlement of public property and illegal taking of interest" and his referral to a criminal court.
Regarding the former President of the Senate Joseph Lambert, he is charged with obstruction of justice, for having notably refused to hand over (when he was President of the Senate) documents to the investigators of the ULCC, including the contract in which 9 checks were were issued to Latortue's mother, of which 8 (more than 2.5 million Gourdes) were cashed into the account of his colleague Youri. For this, Me Marthel Jean-Claude orders his referral to a criminal court.
Another order of Judge Marthel Jean-Claude concerning the 2 ex-Senators, enjoins the competent authorities "[...] We order that they be taken from the body and imprisoned in the Civil Prison of Port-au-Prince for acts of embezzlement of public property, unlawful taking of interests and obstruction of justice [...]"
Reacting to this news, former Senator Yoruri Latortue said "Judge Marthel’s Order has not yet been served on us to date; although some sectors already seem to have an intimate knowledge of it... We are therefore waiting to read it before commenting. Remember that the relentlessness against us no longer surprises anyone."
SL/ HaitiLibre
|
|
|
|
