Haiti politician accused of bribery meets with judge
6 reported
A former ambassador and member of Haiti’s since-dissolved transitional presidential council appeared in court Monday for an interview with a judge to face corruption charges. Smith Augustin met behind closed doors with a judge investigating accusations that he and two other former council members demanded more than $750,000 from the director of the government-owned National Bank of Credit to secure his job. The accusations were made public in October 2024 by Haiti’s anti-corruption agency. Augustin did not speak to reporters, but his attorney said the meeting went well and that Augustin would be available for future questioning. The anti-corruption unit stated that all three former council members and the former bank manager face criminal charges of bribery and corruption, and that the suspects have denied the accusations.
What’s reported
Smith Augustin, a former ambassador and member of Haiti’s since-dissolved transitional presidential council, met with a judge Monday for an interview regarding corruption charges.
The judge is investigating accusations that Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, and Louis Gérald Gilles demanded more than $750,000 from the director of the government-owned National Bank of Credit to secure his job.
The accusations were made public in October 2024 by Haiti’s anti-corruption agency.
Augustin’s attorney, Mario Delcy, said the meeting went well and that Augustin would be available whenever authorities need to question him.
Haiti’s Unit for Combating Corruption said the three former council members and former bank manager Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis face criminal charges of bribery and corruption, and that the suspects have denied the accusations.
Augustin previously served as Haitian ambassador to the Dominican Republic; Gilles is an ex-senator; Vertilaire is a former investigative judge.
Key figures
Smith Augustin: former ambassador and member of Haiti’s since-dissolved transitional presidential council
Mario Delcy: attorney for Smith Augustin
Emmanuel Vertilaire: former council member and former investigative judge
Louis Gérald Gilles: former council member and ex-senator
Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis: former bank manager of the National Bank of Credit
Sources: abcnews.com
