Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, currently under judicial investigation for embezzlement of public funds of tens of millions of dollars, corruption and illicit drug trafficking [records initiated in 2006 and 2007] confirmed Judge Raymond Jean Michel, Dean of the Civil Court of Port-au-Prince. As part of these investigations, a list of about thirty relatives of the Lavalas Party, banned departure, was sent to the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, by the investigating judge, Me Lamarre Bélizaire.

Haitian media have suggested that former President Aristide was on that list, what formally denied Me Mario Joseph, lawyer for Mr. Aristide "President Aristide did not receive any mandate. No notice has been served under this case. [...] To date, no initiated act was sent to him..."

Thursday, Notary Jean Henry Céant near the Lavalas sector also denied at a press conference that former President Aristide was on that list stressing, that at the approach of elections "All this is only political persecution orchestrated by those who control the apparatus of the State."

However, according to journalist Guyler Delva, Aristide would appear for sure on a second list of 40 people banned from travel.

For his part, Me Lamarre Bélizaire, responsible for the investigation of Aristide case, refusing to comment whether or not a ban on leaving the country was taken against the former president, as stated by some media .

HL/ HaitiLibre