Her Family Says They Now Live in Fear
by Kim Ives (Haiti Liberte)
Four men, including a policeman,
kidnapped Maryse Cinéus, 36, from her home in Croix des Bouquets on May 12,
2012, according to her family. The business woman is presumed to be dead.
kidnapped Maryse Cinéus, 36, from her home in Croix des Bouquets on May 12,
2012, according to her family. The business woman is presumed to be dead.
The
policeman involved, Pierre Toussaint Fender, who was also her security guard,
was arrested about a week later on charges of kidnapping and murder, the family
says. Until now, Cinéus’ body has not been found.
policeman involved, Pierre Toussaint Fender, who was also her security guard,
was arrested about a week later on charges of kidnapping and murder, the family
says. Until now, Cinéus’ body has not been found.
The
family believes that the kidnapping is linked to a land dispute that Cinéus had
with a lawyer named Jackie Saint Pierre and an associate of his named Bonhomme.
On the day of her disappearance, Maryse met with Saint Pierre, according to her
sister Marie Delourdes “Mamoune” Rémy, 43. “Maryse went to Jackie’s office in
the morning,” Rémy told Haïti Liberté.
“He wanted to make a deal with her. We don’t know what happened.”
family believes that the kidnapping is linked to a land dispute that Cinéus had
with a lawyer named Jackie Saint Pierre and an associate of his named Bonhomme.
On the day of her disappearance, Maryse met with Saint Pierre, according to her
sister Marie Delourdes “Mamoune” Rémy, 43. “Maryse went to Jackie’s office in
the morning,” Rémy told Haïti Liberté.
“He wanted to make a deal with her. We don’t know what happened.”
Maryse
Cinéus returned home after that meeting. But at about 5 p.m., Fender, with
three other men, returned in a white jeep with blackened windows to pick her
up. She told her 13-year-old niece Farah Orius, who was home, that she was
going out for a while.
Cinéus returned home after that meeting. But at about 5 p.m., Fender, with
three other men, returned in a white jeep with blackened windows to pick her
up. She told her 13-year-old niece Farah Orius, who was home, that she was
going out for a while.
But
Maryse didn’t come back that evening. Farah and the other young relatives
living at Maryse’s house were worried all night because it was unlike her to
leave them alone.
Maryse didn’t come back that evening. Farah and the other young relatives
living at Maryse’s house were worried all night because it was unlike her to
leave them alone.
The
three other men in the car, according to the family, were Hervé Brutus, a
justice of the peace (juge de paix) who was driving, a local vodou priest
(hougan) named Jean-Robert, and another man named Petiel.
three other men in the car, according to the family, were Hervé Brutus, a
justice of the peace (juge de paix) who was driving, a local vodou priest
(hougan) named Jean-Robert, and another man named Petiel.
The
next day, Sunday, Fender came by the house at around 4 p.m. and asked for
Maryse. Farah replied: “Why are you asking me? You left with her yesterday. You
are the one who should know where she is.”
next day, Sunday, Fender came by the house at around 4 p.m. and asked for
Maryse. Farah replied: “Why are you asking me? You left with her yesterday. You
are the one who should know where she is.”
When
Mamoune learned of Fender’s visit, she called him to find out what had
happened. In a May 18 police report, she said that Fender told her that “he
left together with my sister to go to Unibank to get some money that Gasner
Dupont, a brother of mine, sent. When I pressed for details, he told me that
the same Saturday he had left my sister at 9 p.m. at her father’s house.”
Mamoune learned of Fender’s visit, she called him to find out what had
happened. In a May 18 police report, she said that Fender told her that “he
left together with my sister to go to Unibank to get some money that Gasner
Dupont, a brother of mine, sent. When I pressed for details, he told me that
the same Saturday he had left my sister at 9 p.m. at her father’s house.”
After
Fender gave Mamoune that story on May 13, Maryse’s family began to realize that
something very bad must have happened to her.
Fender gave Mamoune that story on May 13, Maryse’s family began to realize that
something very bad must have happened to her.
Recognizing
that family members suspected him, on Thursday, May 17, Fender, who was a
policeman assigned to the Security Unit for Agrarian Reform (USRA), went to the
home of Maryse’s father, Willem Dupont, who is blind and suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease, according to Mamoune. Fender took Dupont to the
Croix-de-Bouquets police station to file a report on Maryse’s disappearance,
the family says.
that family members suspected him, on Thursday, May 17, Fender, who was a
policeman assigned to the Security Unit for Agrarian Reform (USRA), went to the
home of Maryse’s father, Willem Dupont, who is blind and suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease, according to Mamoune. Fender took Dupont to the
Croix-de-Bouquets police station to file a report on Maryse’s disappearance,
the family says.
According
to family members who saw the report, Fender said that the other three men in
the car – Hervé Brutus, Jean-Robert, and Petiel – had kidnapped Maryse and
taken 90,000 Haitian gourdes and $20,000. He claimed that as the men put him
out of the car, he told them: “You better not kill her.” They replied: “We’re
just taking her money. She’s in good hands.” Fender claimed the men then took
Maryse to the hougan Jean-Robert’s house.
to family members who saw the report, Fender said that the other three men in
the car – Hervé Brutus, Jean-Robert, and Petiel – had kidnapped Maryse and
taken 90,000 Haitian gourdes and $20,000. He claimed that as the men put him
out of the car, he told them: “You better not kill her.” They replied: “We’re
just taking her money. She’s in good hands.” Fender claimed the men then took
Maryse to the hougan Jean-Robert’s house.
The
next day, on May 18, Mamoune went with Sheelove Orius, Maryse’s 30-year-old
cousin, to the police to report what Fender had originally told her and then
how he had taken Dupont to the police to give a different story. “I have come
to file this complaint with the police so that all that is legal and necessary
can be done,” her police report reads.
next day, on May 18, Mamoune went with Sheelove Orius, Maryse’s 30-year-old
cousin, to the police to report what Fender had originally told her and then
how he had taken Dupont to the police to give a different story. “I have come
to file this complaint with the police so that all that is legal and necessary
can be done,” her police report reads.
Shortly
thereafter, the Central Command of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) arrested Fender,
who was jailed at the DCPJ. Mamoune hired lawyer Jean Michel Augustin of the
law office of Reynold Georges to file suit against Fender. Fender is now being
held in the National Penitentiary.
thereafter, the Central Command of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) arrested Fender,
who was jailed at the DCPJ. Mamoune hired lawyer Jean Michel Augustin of the
law office of Reynold Georges to file suit against Fender. Fender is now being
held in the National Penitentiary.
While
in jail, Fender has told the police to look for Maryse’s body in several
places. “But when the police go to the places Fender sends them, they find the
bodies of other people,” said Bernard Péricles, who is married to one of
Maryse’s cousins. “Therefore, this gang has killed other people and should be
charged with several murders.”
in jail, Fender has told the police to look for Maryse’s body in several
places. “But when the police go to the places Fender sends them, they find the
bodies of other people,” said Bernard Péricles, who is married to one of
Maryse’s cousins. “Therefore, this gang has killed other people and should be
charged with several murders.”
But
the family believes that someone other than Fender is really behind Maryse’s
disappearance. “Jackie Saint Pierre is the real architect of Maryse’s death,”
said Bernard Péricles. “He may well be responsible for all the bodies the
police are finding at the different grave sites Fender is revealing.”
the family believes that someone other than Fender is really behind Maryse’s
disappearance. “Jackie Saint Pierre is the real architect of Maryse’s death,”
said Bernard Péricles. “He may well be responsible for all the bodies the
police are finding at the different grave sites Fender is revealing.”
The
charge is serious. Saint Pierre is a spokesman for the Lawyers Association of
Croix des Bouquets.
charge is serious. Saint Pierre is a spokesman for the Lawyers Association of
Croix des Bouquets.
Although
lawyer Jean Michel Augustin has requested a hearing to prosecute Fender since
June, until now, after three months of delays, no hearing has been held. Each
time a date is set, the judge claims he is sick. “One time he was there in
October, but he said he did not feel like talking,” Péricles reports.
lawyer Jean Michel Augustin has requested a hearing to prosecute Fender since
June, until now, after three months of delays, no hearing has been held. Each
time a date is set, the judge claims he is sick. “One time he was there in
October, but he said he did not feel like talking,” Péricles reports.
Frustrated,
on July 7, Mamoune went on the airwaves of Radio Caraïbes and Scoop FM to talk
about her sister’s kidnapping. She was surprised to find Jackie Saint Pierre
also at Scoop FM. She claims he seemed frightened about what she would say.
on July 7, Mamoune went on the airwaves of Radio Caraïbes and Scoop FM to talk
about her sister’s kidnapping. She was surprised to find Jackie Saint Pierre
also at Scoop FM. She claims he seemed frightened about what she would say.
But
Mamoune is also frightened. “I’m living in hiding at home,” she told Haïti Liberté. “Men in dark glasses are
always coming around my house asking for me, trying to learn my face.”
Mamoune is also frightened. “I’m living in hiding at home,” she told Haïti Liberté. “Men in dark glasses are
always coming around my house asking for me, trying to learn my face.”
“Our
family is living in fear,” said Péricles. “Since July, they have been
terrorized.”
family is living in fear,” said Péricles. “Since July, they have been
terrorized.”
Péricles
also feels the government is dragging its feet. “The Martelly government must
also be held accountable because too many people in Haiti have been kidnapped,
killed, and raped,” he said. “In the Brandt case, they only acted because the
U.S. embassy intervened on behalf of the Moscoso kids. But who is going to
intervene so that we can find out what happened to Maryse Cinéus?”
also feels the government is dragging its feet. “The Martelly government must
also be held accountable because too many people in Haiti have been kidnapped,
killed, and raped,” he said. “In the Brandt case, they only acted because the
U.S. embassy intervened on behalf of the Moscoso kids. But who is going to
intervene so that we can find out what happened to Maryse Cinéus?”
Four men, including a policeman, kidnapped Maryse Cinéus (above) from
her home in Croix des Bouquets on May 12, 2012. She is presumed to be dead, but
her body has not been found.
her home in Croix des Bouquets on May 12, 2012. She is presumed to be dead, but
her body has not been found.
