Haiti: ULCC warns of vast corruption network within several public institutions

The Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) published, on May 8, 2025, a damning report highlighting serious management abuses and multiple acts of corruption within several major public institutions: the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE), the Office of Work Accident, Sickness, and Maternity Insurance (OFATMA), passport application centers, as well as the Office for the Protection of Citizens (OPC). The revelations concern embezzlement of public funds, tax fraud, conflicts of interest, and abuse of power involving numerous high-ranking figures, including former general directors, private company officials, a former minister, and relatives of the former Citizen Protector.

Immigration: Passport falsification orchestrated by former director

The ULCC report implicates the former director of the DIE, Stéphane Vincent, accused of having led a document falsification scheme. With the complicity of collaborators such as Lesly Saint Juste, Rubens Pauleon, and Marriantha Méroné, Vincent allegedly created a fake account under the fictitious identity of “Fernando Victor” to illegally issue 736 passports between September and November 2024, resulting in a loss of over 3.6 million gourdes for the state. Although Mr. Vincent denied it during his hearing, technical evidence directly links him to this fraudulent account, and the applications were processed using his administrative credentials. The ULCC recommends his prosecution for extortion and embezzlement of public funds.

OFATMA: 107 million spent without tax withholding

The former general director of OFATMA, Dr. Carl François, is also under ULCC scrutiny. The investigation reveals that he authorized the payment of 107.6 million gourdes to two private companies – VALCUISINE and OLEY Event & Food Services – without tax withholding, causing a revenue shortfall of over 2.1 million gourdes. The ULCC advocates for an audit of his management by the Court of Auditors and recommends prosecution against him for abuse of power and forgery.

Passports: An illegal system of additional fees estimated at over 72 million gourdes in 2023

The ULCC reveals that passport application centers illegally collected over 72.5 million gourdes in additional fees in 2023. These fees, imposed in violation of a circular, ranged up to 2,500 gourdes for a lost passport. The ULCC calls for legal action against several officials and recommends the termination of illegal contracts.

The OPC under Renan Hédouville under scrutiny

The ULCC also targets the OPC under the direction of Me Renan Hédouville, mentioning fictitious trips funded by the institution. In 2022 and 2024, 16.5 million gourdes were allegedly disbursed for fictitious missions, with over 7 million for plane tickets and approximately 9 million in per diem. Checks were issued for uncompleted travel, highlighting opaque management.