Présidentiel

Haiti-Conspiracy-Presidency: Defendant Peter Kanzky defended by stepfather

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht)- The businessman Philippe Armand denies the involvement of his stepson, Pierre-Edouard Kanzki, in a plot against Martelly. Identifying himself with Martelly’s team, Armand, in a letter published in the Haitian press on April 17, is surprised that his son-in-law is being persecuted. Defend Haiti publishes the letter in its entirety.

"Too many sincere friends, disturbed by the conspiracy charges brought against my stepson Pierre-Edouard Kanzki, call me constantly on the phone to understand what is happening. So I think it my duty to speak out publicly once and for all, to dispel unjust rumors against him.

"It's a ridiculous story, which originated in the Dominican Republic when the Dominican secret service spying for electoral purposes the ex-colonel Pedro Goico (No. 2 Hipolito Mejia in PRD) fell on a telephone call to Haiti, following Nuria Piera's article on corruption. The recording was sent to the Haitian Government, accusing the speaker, my son Pierre-Edouard Kanzki (friend of Goico Pedro and his family for over 10 years) of "Conspiracy against the Haitian State Security".

"What machinations of the party in power of Leonel Fernandez (PLD) who, desperate to do everything to discredit the PRD, which according to polls appears poised to beat them in elections next month, choose to attack an PRD ally in Haiti rather than take action on their own ground with men like Mr. Pepe Goico and Mr. Hipolito Mejia.

"I am surprised that the Martelly Government –my political family and I don’t hide it— does not understand that and does not protect us, his true political allies.

"So at the instigation of Dominican Government, a warrant" for conspiracy" was issued against my son Pierre-Edouard who was absent at that time. Given the gravity of the situation, we had to ask the Prosecutor of Port-au-Prince, a postponement for a week to prepare his defense.

"The unfortunate incident on Dominican wiretap complicates things while troublemakers unfortunately convinced President Martelly the malice of my son and the need to punish him because of reason of state. Too bad we are in such trouble when we should focus on fostering our businesses in a difficult economic context.

"I would hope that with all the evidence brought, the President Martelly, convinced of the banality of the "regrettable" conversation between Pidou and Pepe, will lift the indictment of my son and let go about their business and professional family in full respect of their rights as citizens."

Port-au-Prince, April 16, 2012.

Philip R. ARMAND

PS: Pierre Kanzky himself had responded last Saturday on this conspiracy case he is accused of. He described the history of fantasy and was willing to make available to the Haitian justice. A bench warrant was issued against Kanzky.