'Baby Doc' Duvalier facing extended stay in Haiti

[struggle4progress]

Ex-dictator awaits judge's word on corruption trial as government closes in on funds in Swiss account
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
The Guardian
Thursday 20 January 2011

Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier remained in his Port-au-Prince hotel yesterday preparing for an extended and possibly permanent stay in Haiti as fresh criminal charges, including torture and crimes against humanity, were filed against him.

The former dictator's limbo – he is not a prisoner but is apparently unable to leave the country because of corruption and embezzlement charges – turned more precarious when he faced accusations of atrocities during his rule.

Michèle Montas, a Haitian former spokeswoman for the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, was one of four Haitians who filed separate complaints to prosecutors.

She was forced into exile after Duvalier closed her late husband's radio station. "Anyone who was in any way independent from the regime was systematically arrested and killed," Montas said ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/19/baby-doc-duvalier-limbo-haiti

[Judi Lynn]

1. Very cool. Hope conditions will prompt him to be desperate to leave A.S.A.P..

any way possible. If they seize his stolen assets, he won't be able to get very far, will he?

From the article:

Michèle Montas, a Haitian former spokeswoman for the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, was one of four Haitians who filed separate complaints to prosecutors.

She was forced into exile after Duvalier closed her late husband's radio station. "Anyone who was in any way independent from the regime was systematically arrested and killed," Montas said.

It was unclear how fast Haiti's ramshackle judicial system would process the petitions, possibly the first of many.

A mood of anxiety around the Karibe hotel, Duvalier's improvised base since returning on Sunday, deepened with news that the Haitian state may soon wrest $5.7m (£3.5m) from his frozen Swiss bank account, the alleged remnant of an embezzled fortune.

That may be why he suddenly appeared, from outta nowhere: running low on finances. Already blew the national treasury he stole, like the Batistianos, the money belonging to the citizens, needs a refil. Expensive habits, etc.

[Downwinder]

2. Perhaps he will take some others down with him.