Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1734
2006-09-14 15:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

ARREST ORDERED FOR NUMBER 3 POLICE OFFICER

Tags:  PGOV SNAR KCRM KJUS PINR HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3520
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1734 2571546
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141546Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4044
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1224
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1066
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0582
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0993
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001734 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM KJUS PINR HA
SUBJECT: ARREST ORDERED FOR NUMBER 3 POLICE OFFICER

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JANET A. SANDERSON, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001734

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM KJUS PINR HA
SUBJECT: ARREST ORDERED FOR NUMBER 3 POLICE OFFICER

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JANET A. SANDERSON, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).


1. (U) Judge Napela Saintil on September 12 issued a bench
warrant for Michael Lucius, the third highest ranking
official in the Haitian police (HNP) who serves as the
director of the criminal investigation unit (DCPJ). The
warrant stems from charges of "complicity in kidnapping" that
Saintil brought against Lucius in April. Lucius refused to
appear in court to answer those charges on two previous
occasions, once claiming that former interim Prime Minister
Latortue had sent him on official business to the Dominican
Republic on the date of the scheduled hearing. Lucius
immediately filed an appeal against the warrrant on
jurisdictional grounds and took to the airwaves to denounce
judge Saintil as corrupt. Chief prosecutor Claudy Gassant,
responsible for executing the warrant, interviewed Lucius in
his office on September 13, in the presence of HNP chief
Mario Andresol. Gassant announced he would await the
decision of the appeals court to act on the warrant, but
warned Lucius that his public statements and his previous
failures to appear broached contempt of court.


3. (C) Comment. In the final weeks of the interim government
before President Preval's inauguration in May, Lucius had
publicly denounced several judges, including Saintil,
accusing them of corruption in releasing criminals arrested
by the HNP. Saintil filed charges against Lucius shortly
thereafter, and most observers and many media commentators
judged that the charges were baseless and that Saintil had
acted in retaliation. Informed legal observers also agree
with Lucius' assessment that corruption in the judiciary is
widespread, and many applauded his public stance. With
Lucius enjoying the support of Andresol, and the lame duck
IGOH occupied with elections, Lucius faced down Saintil with
relative ease in their first confrontation.


4. (C) Comment continued. Lucius is a controversial figure.
He earned a reputation as a staunch Lavalasian during the
first Preval and second Aristide administrations, but in late
2003 he concluded an investigation of a high-profile
kidnapping in which he implicated close associates of
Aristide, thus incurring Aristide's wrath. At that point,
according to widely circulated rumor, Lucius allied himself
with Aristide opponents in unofficially identifying gang
leaders and thugs ("chimeres") that Aristide had enlisted to
suppress the opposition. Lavalas militants in Haiti hold
Lucius in particular contempt. More recently, MINUSTAH
police officials have developed a strong dislike for Lucius
because they believe he has obstructed collaboration between
UNPol and the HNP. Post's police advisors also cite
instances where Lucius has impeded cooperation. Lucius has
earned Andresol's respect and apparently made himself
indispensable through his effectiveness and hard work. With
Andresol's backing, we judge that Lucius is secure in his
position for the moment.
SANDERSON