As part of an investigation initiated on Bell Romel (the former DG of the General Administration of Customs - AGD) for money laundering, financing of terrorism and illicit enrichment, the examining magistrate Me Jean Wilner Morin in charge of the investigation of the file (transmitted to justice by the Anti-Corruption Unit) issued a ban on leaving the territory, as a precaution, against Édouard Julcène, the current Director General of and 7 other people : Bell Romel (sanctioned by the USA https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38335-haiti-flash-the-usa-sanctions-romel-bell-and-rony-celestin-for-significant-corruption.html ), Alcindor Fritz, Dubreus Odly, Samedi Ferland, Charles Belair, Be ll D. Anna and Dukens Augustin.

Reacting to this ban on leaving the territory, Édouard Julcène wrote to Me Jacques Lafontant, Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince to denounce this measure.

Me Lafontant in a correspondence to Me Jean Wilner Morin writes "There is no doubt that your order issued against the current Director General of Customs has violated the law in a flagrant manner [...]" reminding the magistrate "[...] considering the provisions of Article 48 of the CIC, it is prescribed that an Investigating Judge is not empowered to perform an investigative act if it is not requested by the Government Commissioner" and that the said judge exposes himself to the sanctions provided for in articles 90 and 91 of the penal code which may include dismissal...

It is worth remembering that the Government Commissioner Jacques Lafontant is no longer a certified judge since his inclusion on the list of 28 judges excluded from the judicial system https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38636-haiti-flash- vast-coup-de-broom-dans-le-systeme-judiciaire-28-magistrates-mis-a-l-ecart-liste.html by the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) in January 2013 but that for some unknown reason he is still illegally at his post...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38636-haiti-flash-vast-sweep-in-the-judicial-system-28-magistrates-sidelined-list.html

TB/ HaitiLibre