The release of Me Robinson Pierre-Louis and the former commissioner of the government of Port-de-Paix, Michelet Virgile, this Wednesday, has sparked strong reactions. After several appearances before the Court of Appeal of Port-au-Prince, the two men were released on bail, although they are still linked to the case of the boat “Miss Lili”, which was transporting weapons and ammunition from Port-de-Paix in July 2022.
Robinson Pierre-Louis, a former member of the cabinet of the then Minister of Justice, Me Berto Dorcé, was the lawyer for one of the main defendants in this case. According to the DCPJ, Me Pierre-Louis had called the government commissioner of Port-de-Paix to demand the release of several people involved in this case. The charges against him and Virgile include forfeiture, suspicion of corruption, influence peddling and criminal association, according to the order of investigating judge Walter Voltaire.
The release decision, which comes at a time when public opinion is particularly sensitive to issues of corruption and justice, raises questions about the fairness of Haiti’s justice system. As the country struggles with corruption and organized crime, the decision is seen by some as a worrying sign of favoritism and a failing justice system.
