Tuesday, Jean Renel Sanon, the Minister of Justice convened by the Commission Justice of Senate, chaired by Senator Pierre Francky Excius, responded to the questions of senators on the revocation of Me Jean Renel Sénatus, the Government Commissioner ; the appointment of Me Felix Léger as Director of Judicial Affairs and the cascade of appointments and revocations made in the judicial system. The Minister seemed embarrassed before the Commission on several occasions, experiencing some difficulty to justify his actions convincingly.

Concerning the removal of the former Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince, Jean Renel Sénatus the Minister reiterated that this removal was for insubordination and serious maladministration. Concerning the allegations of Me Sénatus linking his revocation to his refusal to carry out illegal orders of the Minister, including the arrest of 36 people including the lawyers Newton Saint-Juste and André Michel, the Minister has strongly denied the accusations of the former Commissioner "There is no list, there has never been a list [...] is a list fabricated."

The Minister of Justice also rejected with a wave of the hands the other allegation of Me Sénatus as what it would be involved in shady business "This is nonsense [...] I've never been involved near or far in the drug case. Announcing in the process, that measures will be taken in this case concerning the charges...

Regarding the appointment of Me Felix Léger, the former Government Commissioner, who had issued an illegal arrest warrant against the Deputy Arnel Bélizaire in October 2011, resulting in the resignation of the Commissioner following the scandal that followed, the the Minister said that no judgment had been rendered against the former Commissioner making him ineligible to a function in the state. The senators estimated that the appointment was an insult to the parliamentarians. Under the pressure of members of the Commission, the Minister finally acknowledged, that this appointment was a mistake. "We can sit together to resolve the problem"

Regarding the multiple appointments of Magistrate, perceived by the Senators as the result of pressure from the Government and not the application of the standards in force, the Minister of Justice, on the defensive and angry, recalled that he was not responsible for the appointment of judges, but belonged the Head of State.

The Commission Justice of Senate has recommended the withdrawal by the Executive of the appointment of Me Felix Léger and the reintegration of Magistrates displaced in their function... According to Senator Pierre Francky Exius, the Minister of Justice have agreed to implement these recommendations.

At the end of the hearing, the President of the Commission, declared not to be satisfied with the answers Mr. Sanon concerning the circumstances of the layoff of Commissioner Sénatus.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6766-haiti-politic-reactions-around-the-revocation-of-commissioner-senatus.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6764-haiti-justice-the-minister-of-justice-trivializes-the-revocation-of-senatus.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6763-haiti-justice-me-jean-renel-senatus-provides-explanations.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6752-haiti-flash-the-government-commissioner-jean-renel-senatus-is-replaced.html

HL/ HaitiLibre