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Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) has released a comprehensive report detailing alleged corruption involving three members of the Presidential Transition Council (CPT). The report accuses Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, and Louis Gérald Gilles of soliciting a 100 million gourdes ($770,000) bribe from Raoul Pascal Pierre-Louis in exchange for his reinstatement as president of the Banque Nationale de Crédit (BNC).
According to the report, the bribery demand occurred during a confidential meeting at the Royal Oasis Hotel in Pétion-Ville on May 25, 2024. Pierre-Louis, who was seeking reappointment as president of the BNC board, reportedly confirmed the allegations during an August 2024 interview with the ULCC. The meeting was allegedly arranged by Louis Gérald Gilles, a long-time friend of Pierre-Louis, and involved discussions on Pierre-Louis’s future in the role.
The ULCC investigation, launched after Pierre-Louis submitted a letter to Prime Minister Garry Conille on July 24, 2024, details how Pierre-Louis claimed he could not meet the 100 million gourdes demand. Instead, he allegedly offered alternative forms of compensation, including a BNC credit line, a loan, or a pre-approved credit card with a limit of $20,000.
The report revealed that pre-approved credit cards were subsequently issued to Augustin, Vertilaire, Gilles, and Lonick Leandre, a consul who was also present at the hotel meeting. These cards were used for significant transactions, but only minimal repayments were made, according to the investigation. Pierre-Louis admitted that the credit card scheme was intended as a bribe to secure his reappointment.
The ULCC report concludes that Pierre-Louis, along with the three CPT members, abused their positions of power and engaged in corrupt practices. It recommends that legal proceedings be initiated against the implicated individuals for passive and active bribery, as well as corruption. The report also suggests that Pierre-Louis be extradited to Haiti to face charges, as he is currently outside the country.
The ULCC’s findings have raised serious concerns about corruption within the highest levels of Haiti’s government. The investigation highlights misuse of official resources and outlines the potential for deeper legal repercussions, as recommended by the anti-corruption body.
