ULCC Anti-corruption Investigation: Ministry of Defense in Turmoil

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— Serious allegations of corruption targeting Defense Minister Jean Michel Moïse are now the subject of a preliminary investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), according to corroborating sources close to the case. The accusations were reportedly made by the ministry's Director General, Me Jean Ronel Sistanis, opening a new judicial front in an institutional context already marked by strong tensions.

According to an internal ULCC source, a first hearing was scheduled for Tuesday morning as part of this procedure. «Yes, the ULCC is investigating. A hearing is to be held this morning», confirmed this source, who nevertheless refused to provide further details on the exact nature of the alleged facts or on the individuals called to appear at this stage of the investigation.

In parallel with the anti-corruption body's intervention, the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Disputes (CSCCA) has also reportedly been seized of the case. According to a source close to the institution, an investigation commission should soon be established to evaluate the administrative, financial, and budgetary implications of the accusations brought against the holder of the Defense portfolio.

While no official communication has yet been published by the ministry concerned or by the ULCC to publicly confirm the formal opening of the procedure, this affair further complicates a sensitive political and security climate, marked by debates on governance, transparency, and the accountability of high-ranking state officials.

These developments risk increasing pressure on the transitional authorities, as control institutions are increasingly called upon to shed light on suspicions of mismanagement and corruption within the public administration. At this stage, the investigation remains preliminary, and no criminal responsibility has been officially established.

Jean Mapou / Le Relief