Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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Top Haitian police officer indicted for kidnapping

Thursday, October 26, 2006

by: Joseph Guyler Delva

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): One of Haiti's top police officers will face arrest if he does not turn himself in after his indictment for complicity in kidnappings, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.

Inspector-General Michael Lucius, head of the police agency that investigates kidnappings, has refused to appear before investigative Judge Napela Saintil, who issued warrants against him and two other police officers last month.

Lucius, who is barred from leaving the troubled Caribbean nation, has denied the allegations and said Saintil is biased against him.

Haiti's ill-trained police force was decimated by a violent rebellion that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. It has been unable to contain political and gang violence, despite the presence of thousands of U.N. peacekeeping troops sent to help with security after the rebellion.

Dozens of people have been kidnapped for ransom during the crime wave.

Prosecutor Claudy Gassant said Lucius must appear before the judge or he will face arrest.

"Our position is clear and firm," Gassant said. "Mr. Lucius has to comply with the judge's order or he will be arrested."

An investigative judge is forbidden by law from revealing details of an inquiry. But sources familiar with the case said jailed suspects and others had provided evidence that Lucius had aided kidnappers who claimed they were working for him.

"I can't understand that the judge wants to arrest me on the basis of false accusations brought by criminals I have arrested," Lucius, director of Haiti's Judicial Police, said recently.

Gassant and Police Chief Mario Andresol had deferred the execution of the warrants after Lucius decided to challenge Saintil's allegations before the Supreme Court. But the high court last week rejected Lucius' appeal, which obliges him to appear before Saintil.

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