The Port-au-Prince Public Prosecutor's Office Actively Freezes Assets of UN-Sanctioned Individuals

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— The Port-au-Prince Public Prosecutor's Office has begun implementing the order from the Ministry of Justice concerning individuals under UN sanctions. Indeed, the Government Commissioner at the Court of First Instance, Maitre Frantz Monclair, announced this Tuesday the decision to freeze the assets of these individuals.

This decision is indeed part of the precautionary measures recently required by the Ministry of Justice. The head of the MJSP, Dr. Patrick Pélissier, had instructed the prosecutor to implement concrete actions aimed at applying UN Security Council Resolution 2653, which sanctions gang leaders, among others, for money laundering, terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Seven individuals are primarily targeted by this measure: Jimmy Chérizier, alias Barbecue, leader of the Viv Ansanm terrorist coalition; Johnson André, leader of the 5 Secondes gang; Renel Destina, leader of the Grand Ravine gang; Wilson Joseph, leader of the 400 Mawozo gang; Vitelhomme Innocent, leader of the Kraze Barye gang; Prophane Victor, former parliamentarian involved in arms trafficking; Luckson Elan, leader of the Gran Grif gang, all classified as dangerous and corrupt.

The instruction from the Ministry of Justice includes, in particular: the immediate freezing of their bank accounts and the assets of their accomplices; and the opening of investigations by financial and oversight institutions into all economic activities related to these individuals.

By announcing this decision, the Haitian justice system aims to mark a crucial step in the fight against impunity. This measure should pave the way for the construction of a just Haiti that respects norms. It illustrates a firm message that organized crime will never prevail.

Jean Mapou