Three Members of Haiti's Transitional Council Formally Accused of Corruption and Abuse of Office

Anti-corruption investigators in Haiti have recommended criminal charges against three members of the country's Transitional Presidential Council and a former bank director. The accusations stem from claims that the officials solicited over $750,000 in bribes from the former director of the state-owned National Bank of Credit (BNC), in exchange for allowing him to retain his position.

The three council members, Smith Augustin, Louis Gérald Gilles, and Emmanuel Vertilaire, along with the former bank director, Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis, are accused of abusing their positions and engaging in corruption.

The report, released by Haiti's Anti-Corruption Unit and reported by the Miami Herald, detailed that the council members were given pre-approved credit cards with limits as high as $20,000, which were allegedly part of a bribe arrangement with Pierre-Louis. The report suggests that these cards were provided in lieu of the bribe, implying misconduct on both sides.

The investigation highlighted improper use of the credit cards, including late or missed payments, with one card being temporarily blocked. Investigators concluded that Pierre-Louis issued the cards outside legal and administrative procedures, in what they described as an attempt to secure his renewal as director of the bank. The report asserts that all involved parties abused their functions and engaged in corrupt practices.

All parties have denied the allegations. Through his lawyer, Pierre-Louis claimed that the council members demanded the amount to retain his post. He was subsequently dismissed from his position by Prime Minister Garry Conille, who justified the move by noting that Pierre-Louis' term had expired and the bank was undergoing a takeover by the Central Bank. The former bank director contends that he is being wrongfully portrayed as the perpetrator rather than the victim of the scheme.

The allegations have sparked a significant political controversy, with concerns that they could undermine the U.S.-backed transition efforts aimed at stabilizing Haiti and preparing for its first presidential and parliamentary elections in nine years.

The Anti-Corruption Unit's report stops short of conclusively proving the bribery scheme but presents circumstantial evidence they say warrants further investigation. It remains up to a prosecutor to determine whether the case will proceed to an investigative judge.

In the meantime, some political figures, including lawyer Samuel Madistin, are calling for the accused council members to step down, citing concerns over the credibility of the upcoming elections that the council is tasked with organizing.

The accusations have also caused divisions within the political coalitions represented on the council. While some groups have defended the accused council members, others have called for their resignation to preserve the council's credibility. The three council members have denied the accusations and refused to resign.