The National Association of Haitian Judges (Anamah) on Wednesday called on the nation’s government to regain control of the Palace of Justice, which was attacked on June 10 by gunmen who expelled judges, government commissioners and other staff.
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Gang members in Haiti storm the Palace of Justice
In a statement, Anamah recalled that on previous occasions she had requested the seat of the Court of First Instance to be relocated to another location, explaining that this was not granted because “the authorities of both the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Council of the Judiciary did they play deaf”.
The organization asserted that “the lack of sanctions in any country encourages corruption and increases crime” and called on the government to take the necessary measures to make Port-au-Prince’s judiciary operational.
#International || Asocial groups storm the Palace of Justice in Haiti.
Government Commissioner, reported that criminals are members of the Cinco Segundos gang and are linked to the kidnapping of 38 people, which took place hours before the palace was taken. pic.twitter.com/CcwRltJqzd
– National Daily Newspaper (@DiarioNacional9)
June 11, 2022
The courthouse was violently evacuated by the armed group Five Seconds of Village de Dieu. According to local media, the quick action of the Haitian National Police (HNP) enabled judges, lawyers and prosecutors to escape by scaling the walls.
This is the second attack in less than a week. According to journalists, the first of them occurred, the third in October 2021, when people broke into the offices of Judge Garry Orélien, who was at the time investigating the murder of former President Jovenel Moïse in July of the same year.
The human rights organization Je Klere Foundation (FJKL) joined the denial of this fact, which issued a statement calling for the bandits to be driven out, the judges reinstated, the judicial archives protected and the assets stolen from the state and the judges recovered.
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At least one person was injured and 7 vehicles were seized during the robbery of Haiti’s Palace of Justice, which is still in the hands of armed gangs, denounced the Je Klere Foundation, which defends human rightshttps://t.co/UnnbmbdWJi pic.twitter.com/H7kUQVw3Vr
— Tintov Deveranov ��������������������� (@Pinxaor)
June 15, 2022
This group recalled that gang members occupied the building of the Center for Planning Techniques and Applied Economics (Ctpea) near the Palace of Justice for several weeks.
He also denounced that the criminals wounded him with a firearm and stole seven vehicles (two from the Port-au-Prince Public Prosecutor’s Office, two from the PNH and the other three from judges).
He also questioned that they took the computers, desks, chairs and air conditioners that were in the judges’ and prosecutors’ office and later displayed them for sale in a public place in the Haitian capital.
This Tuesday, participants in the assembly of the Protestant Federation of Haiti criticized the security policy of the Haitian government. During this meeting, Prime Minister Ariel Henry again promised that the country would soon achieve better results in the fight against organized crime and improve the security situation.