PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Former Haitian dictator Jean Claude ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier will face trial for corruption during his 15-year rule, but not for human rights abuses, the judge handling the case said yesterday.
A 20-page ruling on the charges was delivered to the government prosecutor’s office yesterday, Carves Jean, the judge responsible for investigating the case, told Reuters.
It does not include charges for the murders, disappearances, torture and other rights abuses allegedly committed during Duvalier’s rule, Jean said.
“I did not find enough legal grounds to keep human rights charges and crimes against humanity against him,” he said. “Now my job is over. The case is no longer in my hands.”
Duvalier would face up to five years in prison if convicted on the corruption charges. No trial date had yet been set.
Duvalier inherited power from his father, Francois ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier in 1971 and ruled Haiti for 15 years until his overthrow in 1986. Under the father-and-son dictatorship, thousands of people were murdered, or were tortured in jails, such as the dreaded Fort Dimanche.
Duvalier, now 60, made a surprise return to his earthquake-stricken homeland in January last year after nearly 25 years exiled in France, opening himself up to possible prosecution.
While the ruling is a setback for human rights victims and advocates, it also marks a victory for those seeking punishment for Duvalier’s alleged crimes who had feared that the judge would drop all charges. It would also appear to squash any hopes of a political comeback by the former dictator – at least for the time being – as his lawyers battle with the legal challenge.
One of his lawyers said Duvalier would appeal the decision to send him to trial.
Duvalier is alleged to have embezzled between $300 million and $800 million of assets during his presidency.
The Swiss government has sought to confiscate assets valued at 5.8 million Swiss francs ($6.7 million). It wants to return the funds to Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Americas and is struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake in 2010 which killed more than 200,000 people.
Government officials could not be reached to comment on the ruling, but it is likely to be challenged by Duvalier’s alleged victims, of whom at least 19 have filed complaints with the government prosecutor.
Last week, President Michel Martelly was quoted as favouring a pardon for Duvalier though he later retracted his remarks.