Haitian Judge Issues Arrest Warrants for Former Presidents and Prime Ministers

Over 30 high-ranking officials accused of corruption related to Haiti’s National Equipment Center; none have been arrested yet.

A Haitian judge has issued arrest warrants for over 30 high-ranking officials, including numerous former presidents and prime ministers, accusing them of government corruption.
The accused are alleged to have misappropriated funds or equipment related to Haiti’s National Equipment Center, which is responsible for tasks such as building roads or clearing rubble, especially after earthquakes.
Among those named are former presidents Michel Martelly and Jocelerme Privert, as well as former prime ministers Laurent Lamothe, Jean-Michel Lapin, Evans Paul, Jean-Henry Céant, and Claude Joseph, who was in power when former president Jovenel Moïse was killed in July 2021.
None of those named in the arrest warrant could be immediately reached for comment, although Privert, Lapin and Joseph issued statements denying the allegations. No one has been arrested in the case.
The judge is requesting that those accused meet with him for questioning as the investigation continues, but only Joseph has so far appeared in court.