The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Credit Bank, Raoul Pierre Louis, sent a letter to Garry Conille on July 25, accusing presidential advisers Smith Augustin, Louis Gérald Gilles and Emmanuel Vertilaire of demanding 100 million gourdes from him to keep him in office. He has been summoned to the ULCC on July 30 on this subject.
This case has been causing a stir in recent days. Presidential advisers Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire and Louis Gérald Gilles are accused of corruption by Raoul Pierre Louis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Banque Nationale de Crédit. In a letter addressed to Garry Conille, Pierre Louis indicates that the latter demanded 100 million gourdes from him to guarantee his position.
“I would like to inform you that I was approached by the presidential advisers, Messrs. Gérald Gilles, Smith Augustin and Emmanuel Vertilaire, who demanded a payment of 100 million gourdes to keep me in my position at the head of the Banque Nationale de Crédit,” we can read in the letter from Raoul Pierre Louis to Garry Conille.
“This request, which I consider a form of corruption, not only threatens my professional integrity but also constitutes a serious risk to my safety and that of my family. Having become targets of these individuals, we are exposed to threats of potential attacks,” he continues.
Therefore, Raoul Pierre Louis requests rapid intervention from the Prime Minister to strengthen his security and that of his family, as well as to allow the continuation of his functions in a secure environment and without undue pressure.
The ULCC has also been notified of this matter. A letter was sent by the Director General of the ULCC to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Credit Bank for a hearing.
“The General Directorate of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) has the honor to inform you that a Commission of Inquiry, duly mandated for this purpose, wishes to meet you for a hearing to be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at ten o’clock (10 a.m.), at the ULCC premises located at number 20, Delmas 83,” the correspondence reads.
“This step is part of an ongoing investigation at the ULCC,” the press release added.
In the process, the Communications Office of Presidential Advisor Smith Augustin expressed “its astonishment and indignation at the recent false and slanderous allegations associating the Presidential Advisor with acts of corruption, thus attacking his character and integrity.”
The Communications Office of President-Advisor Augustin urges his fellow citizens to remain vigilant and “not to give credence to politically motivated allegations that only aim to destabilize the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) to the detriment of the current needs of the country.”
This case has caused an earthquake within the Transitional Presidential Council, which has not yet reacted. The other presidential advisers have not yet commented on the case.
By: Gazette Haiti News
