Former BNC chairman misses key corruption hearing in bribery scandal again

PORT-AU-PRINCE— A pivotal hearing involving members of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and former National Bank of Credit (BNC) chairman Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis was postponed for the second time on Tuesday. The delay occurred after Pierre-Louis failed to appear, stalling progress in an investigation into bribery allegations he made against three members of the CPT.

The hearing, organized by Haiti’s anti-corruption unit (ULCC), was scheduled to address Pierre-Louis’s claims that councilors Emmanuel Vertilaire, Louis Gérald Gilles, and Smith Augustin solicited an $800,000 bribe from him to secure his position as chairman of the BNC’s Board of Directors.

In light of the allegations, Interim Prime Minister Garry Conille dismissed Pierre-Louis and replaced the BNC’s Board of Directors. However, the accused councilors remain at the CPT despite mounting calls for their resignation.

The investigation, which has been stalled for nearly two months, relies on comparing the accused’s testimonies with Pierre-Louis’s account. The former BNC chairman’s absence continues to impede progress, although the councilors have expressed their willingness to participate in future hearings. For one, Augustin openly said he was ready to cooperate fully with the anti-corruption investigators.

Political pressure is growing for the councilors to resign from the CPT. Augustin’s party, Engaged for Development (EDE), has urged him to step down, emphasizing that resignation does not imply guilt. Similarly, Gilles faces calls for resignation from his political coalition, the Agreement of December 21, with discussions underway to identify potential replacements. Meanwhile, Vertilaire receives full support from his Pitit Desalin party.

Pierre-Louis’s repeated absences have raised legal concerns, as Haiti’s anti-corruption laws penalize obstruction of justice for failing to provide necessary information. The issue has drawn international attention, as evidenced by a recent visit from U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins to the anti-corruption body. However, no information has yet been filtered from the discussions between Hankins and the ULCC’s investigators.

The ULCC is expected to reschedule the hearing, which remains crucial for advancing the investigation. The outcome of this high-profile case could significantly impact Haiti’s political landscape and the parties involved.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Louis’s lawyer, Sonnet Saint-Louis, has called for the CPT members to resign to ensure a fair investigation. However, Saint-Louis did not say if his demand was related to Pierre-Louis snubbing invitations from the investigators. 

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