Agence Haitïenne de Presse - Translation by HaitiAnalysis.com

Judge Carvès Jean delivered a non-lieu verdict in favor of former central director of the judicial police, Michael Lucius, accused of implication in kidnapping cases in Port-au-Prince. The name of Mr. Lucius had been specifically cited in the abduction file, under the interim regime of Gérard Latortue, and of Professor Gilbert, then director of a middle school in Port-au-Prince, missing in action without trace ever since.

It is Judge Napla Saintil who managed the file before it was entrusted to Judge Carvès, who dismissed the case and cleared the former DCPJ of all accusations. Napla Saintil had chosen to get off the case because of the blockade of the judicial system. In fact, Michael Lucius was refusing to appear in front of him, the police was refusing to serve the warrant issued against the DCPJ. And the first precinct of Port-au-Prince, headed by Claudy Gassant, was refusing to process the files submitted by the central direction of the judicial police, particularly those related to the kidnapping. Michael Lucius was subjected to a parallel transfer to the general directorship of the police. And the file sank in the deepest silence until the attack of last September, perpetrated against the former # 3 head of the police on Route des Frères in Port-au-Prince, during which he was injured.

The results of the announced investigation on this attack and the circumstances under which it occurred have not been revealed so far. But it is from Paris, where he has been staying for the past few days, that Lucius made accusations. In declarations on radio Vision 2000, he pointed finger towards the bodyguards of Claudy Gassant who he accuses of implication in the attack launched against him. The accusations made by Michael Lucius revived the case.

In fact, in an interview, Wednesday, on Radio Solidarity, Judge Napla Saintil who is also currently abroad, made it known that he was completely certain that Jean Carvès was going to exonerate Lucius. "They are, above all things, two partners. One is the godfather of the son of the other and everyone knows it", he stated. The magistrate who declares himself offended indicated that the fight against the kidnapping will remain wishful thinking, as long as the stakeholders and those deeply implicated in this practice, will not be neutralized.

"We are in the presence of powerful people who are in the position to choose the judges that must rule about them".

Michael Lucius had been summoned and heard in court, the first time, by Napela Saintil after an individual arrested around the abduction of Professor Gilbert had given out his name as perpetrator, according to the magistrate.

However, according to the lawyers of the former DCPJ, the witness would have retracted his accusation afterward, AND nowadays Judge Saintil reaffirms that grave indices had been rediscovered against Mr. Lucius.

Furthermore, he invites the justice system and the police to initiate an investigation to shed light on the assassination of the Police Chief Delva, in light of his testimony, he said, against Mr. Lucius.

Mr. Delva was then, he said, the person in charge of the custody section of the central direction of the judicial police.