PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – An investigating judge has cleared President Jovenel Moise of any involvement in a money laundering case the authorities have been probing for the past two years.
Moise – Haiti prezJudge Brédy Fabien said there was no evidence to prosecute Moise and last week ordered the dismissal of any money laundering charge against Moïse.
Prior to his election in 2017, the Central Unit of Financial Intelligence (UCREF), a government institution, concluded in a report there were indications Moise had laundered money through a personal account he held with his wife. After analyzing Moïse's bank accounts UCREF concluded “It is possible that Mr. Jovenel Moïse manipulated funds that have nothing to do with his companies”.
Moise denied the allegation.
In 2017, UCREF said it received its first tip against Moise in 2013, under the Michel Martelly presidency. The information in the report came directly from Haiti’s financial institutions, UCREF’s head Sonel Jean-Francois told journalists then.
The case resurfaced in Jan. 2017 after police arrested Guy Philippe, an ally and senator-elect, who was extradited to the United States to face charges of money laundering and drug trafficking.
