Its president, Matin Ainé, told the press that corrupt judges should stop deceiving the populace, although he warned that the Supreme Judicial Council (CSPJ) should be open to lawsuits from lawyers demanding a review of their files.
Ainé pointed out that all judges must be treated equally, whether they are holders or alternates, and urged the council to act impartially.
It was revealed this week that about 30 judges and prosecutors have been removed from the Haitian judicial system for lack of moral integrity or academic inadequacy, according to a CSPJ statement.
The judges were also referred to abuse of office, drunkenness, aiding and abetting notorious criminals or insufficient academic qualifications, the note reads.
For their part, human rights organizations such as Je Klere and Nou pap konplis have called for action to be taken against the lawyers, proposing that their assets be frozen and that they be banned from teaching.
Je Klere also called for an investigation to determine the extent of the judges’ wealth and to verify that it constitutes legitimate income.
In the same way, Nou pap konplis called on the authorities to send the perpetrators’ files to the judiciary and the police, so that they answer for the facts they are accused of.
The measure affected judges such as Jean Osner Petit-Papa, who acquitted former Senator Onondieu Louis on charges of embezzlement, as well as Ramoncite Accimé, in charge of the PetroCaribe case, and Garry Orélien, who investigated the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and was dismissed on corruption charges.
They also include Judge Ikenson Edumé and Port-au-Prince’s government commissioner Jacques Lafontant, who was dismissed in November by then-Justice Minister Berto Dorcé for serious administrative offenses and suspected corruption.
lam/ane