Haiti24News
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian investigative judge Loubens Élysée issued an arrest warrant for Aviol Fleurant, the former Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, after repeatedly ignoring judicial summonses in a high-profile corruption case. The warrant, delivered to the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) on Monday, marks a significant escalation in a years-long investigation into allegations of false asset declarations and illicit enrichment during Fleurant’s tenure from 2016 to 2018.
The case stems from a damning report by Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), which revealed that Fleurant’s assets surged by 253%—equivalent to 75.2 million gourdes (roughly $570,000)—during his time in office. Investigators found that Fleurant and his wife, Ludmia Toussaint, funneled these funds into 16 bank accounts and purchased two properties in Péguy-Ville valued at $75,000, transactions they failed to justify legally . The ULCC also accused Fleurant of submitting fraudulent tax returns, omitting monthly legal fees of 400,000 gourdes, which cost the state nearly 2.8 million gourdes in lost revenue .
Fleurant, a practicing attorney, attempted to halt the investigation by filing a procedural appeal with Haiti’s Court of Cassation, the nation’s highest judicial authority. However, the court rejected his petition, allowing the probe to proceed . His refusal to cooperate with investigators has drawn sharp criticism, with judicial sources describing it as a “defiance of Haiti’s legal system” .
A Broader Crackdown on Impunity
The case against Fleurant is part of a wider anti-corruption campaign by the ULCC, which has recently submitted seven reports implicating high-ranking officials in scandals totaling 614 million gourdes in state losses . These include embezzlement at the National Solid Waste Management Service and the diversion of funds meant for school meals, exacerbating Haiti’s malnutrition crisis .
Public outrage over Fleurant’s alleged misconduct has been mounting since 2024, when over 4,900 citizens petitioned for an investigation into his unexplained wealth . Despite such efforts, Haiti’s history of impunity looms large: of 94 corruption cases forwarded to prosecutors since 2004, only one has resulted in a conviction .
Legal and Political Repercussions
Judge Élysée’s decision to issue an arrest warrant signals a rare judicial push for accountability. “This case could set a precedent,” said a legal analyst familiar with the proceedings. “If Fleurant is held responsible, it might encourage more robust prosecutions of powerful figures” .
Yet challenges persist. Fleurant’s legal team has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, while critics argue that Haiti’s underfunded judiciary and entrenched corruption networks will hinder a fair trial. The DCPJ has not disclosed a timeline for executing the warrant, leaving many to wonder whether Fleurant will face justice .
Public Reaction
In Kenscoff, where recent gang violence has overshadowed governance issues, residents expressed skepticism. “Politicians steal while we suffer,” said a local teacher who requested anonymity. “Until someone like Fleurant is actually jailed, nothing will change” .
As Haiti grapples with overlapping crises—from gang violence to economic collapse—the Fleurant case tests the nation’s resolve to confront systemic corruption. For now, all eyes remain on the DCPJ and its next move.
