Political

Haiti: Gaillot Dorsinvil, Still Evading Justice, Prepares for Next Elections

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – The President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Gaillot Dorsinvil, which is the subject of an arrest warrant by the Commissioner of the Government, surprised many, returning to his office on Monday.

Considered to still be on the lam, Dorsinvil had not appeared in public since late October 2011 for a brief moment, after returning from the Dominican Republic where he had evaded prosecution for 3 months.

Gaillot Dorsinvil presided over elections marred with fraud, inconsistencies and unexplained reversals of competing candidates. Asked about his return Dorsinvil argued that he is about to obtain a lifting of the warrant issued against him.

The summons turned into a warrant issued by the Chief Prosecutor of the time Harrycidas Auguste, who accused Dorsinvil of engaging in electoral fraud and restricted his movement to Haiti. The case now is being analyzed by the new Commissioner Lionel Bourgouin. Mr Dorsinvil described the case against him as a misunderstanding the view that there never was a legal case against him.

Comfortable for now, the president of CEP yesterday held a working session to prepare for the upcoming elections. Official accused of corruption, extortion and conspiracy by the Chief Prosecutor of the time, Mr. Dorsinvil, accompanied by two other advisers, and Antenor Ribelli Pierre Guerrier, has worked on a draft electoral law.

The return of Mr. Dorsinvil comes as the Senate has not voted for the report of the special commission that investigated election fraud. The chairman of this committee, Youri Latortue (Artibonite/AAA), revealed that the report recommends action against electoral advisers, including Gaillot Dorsinvil, accused of fraud and corruption.