Crime
Haiti: State Officials Arrested for Embezzling Education Funds
- Monday, June 11, 2012 10:05 PM
PORT-DE-PAIX, Haiti (defend.ht) – Three individuals have been arrested and one is on the run for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of 3.7 million HTG ($90,000 [US]).
Alcidonis Henri, a Departmental Directorate for the Minister of Education in the Nord-Ouest Department, is on the run, and Sylvestre Merius an administrator of the department is under arrest. The head of the regional office of the ministry, Richard Sincere was also arrested and an official of the National Credit Bank (BNC) Fredline Charles-Pierre.
The suspects used forgery to redirect 3.7 million HTG ($90,000 [US]) of state money that was part of the Free and Compulsory Education Program of the government.
40 other persons of interest are expect to be interviewed in the coming days to shed more light on the racket.
The Minister of Education Reginald Paul expects to form a commission to continue to investigate and prevent these types of crimes from happening.
The commission will also employ the services of other government entities such as the Unit Fighting against Corruption (ULCC) and local government commissioners.
The President of the BNC will also participate in the investigation in the effort to establish preventive measures to avoid embezzlement of education funds.
