PORT-AU-PRINCE – On Wednesday, Haiti’s anti-corruption agency charged five prominent figures with corruption, including three members of an interim governing council, over a bribery scandal involving the chairman of a state-owned bank. The council members, who are part of a nine-member body appointed in April to serve as the country’s executive branch until elections, are accused of abuse of office, bribery, and corruption.
These members are diplomat Smith Augustin, politician Louis Gerald Gilles, and former judge Emmanuel Vertilaire. All three have denied the allegations. Haiti’s national palace and the prime minister’s office have not provided immediate comments. The anti-corruption body, known as the ULCC, also accused local official Lonick Leandre, who allegedly orchestrated the bribery, and Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis, the former chairman of Banque Nationale de Credit, of involvement.
The ULCC has requested the extradition of Pierre-Louis from the United States. Leandre has denied the charges, whereas Pierre-Louis, accused of obstructing justice, has not commented.
The @ULCCHaiti calls for legal action against 3 members of #Haiti‘s presidential council following an investigation into allegations that they demanded around $760,000 from an official to keep his position.
One of them was supposed to assume the rotating presidency next Monday. pic.twitter.com/Pvn9QgQju0
— Diego Da Rin (@diego_darin) October 2, 2024
In late July, Pierre-Louis released a letter accusing the council members of demanding nearly $770,000 in bribes to retain his position. He expressed fear for his safety, stating that he initially thought it was a joke. Pierre-Louis described how Leandre and a council member collected phones in a hotel room before demanding the bribe. As Pierre-Louis did not have the funds, he offered credit cards with a $20,000 limit to the council members. The bank later approved these cards, including a $12,500-limit card for Leandre.
The ULCC report mentions it could not verify a monthly “intelligence fee” of approximately $190,000 declared by Augustin. The interim council was initially seen as an improvement over the previous government, which was widely considered corrupt. Last week, the United Nations supported strengthening the ULCC, which has only secured one conviction out of 87 investigations submitted to Haiti’s judiciary.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Hindustan Times reports the CBI filing chargesheet against RPF officer Bablu Kumar for accepting ₹70,000 bribe to release a seized trailer, escalating demands from ₹50,000 to ₹2.5 lakh.(read more)
- Reuters reports that Haiti’s anti-corruption agency, ULCC, has accused top-ranking officials, including diplomat Smith Augustin and politician Louis Gerald Gilles, of corruption and bribery.(read more)
- US News reports on Haiti’s anti-corruption agency charging top-ranking officials with corruption, including a bribery scandal involving a state-owned bank, highlighting concerns over governance integrity.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was charged with corruption in Haiti?
Five high-profile individuals, including three members of an interim governing council.
What are the charges against the council members?
They are accused of abuse of office, bribery, and corruption.
Did the accused individuals accept the charges?
No, they have all rejected the charges.
What did Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis claim in his letter?
He claimed council members demanded a $770,000 bribe to retain him in his post.
What action did ULCC take regarding Pierre-Louis?
ULCC has requested his extradition from the United States.
