Duvaliers Stole From $20,000,000 Fund To Build Hospital In Haiti

Michele Bennett and Jean Claude Duvalier

It has been revealed, Former Haitian President, Jean-Claude Duvalier and his ex-wife, Michele Bennett, stole money from a $20,000,000 charitable gift, the Canadian government gave to the people of Haiti to build a hospital. Montreal has been home to Haitian immigrants for decades and the donation was an expression of kindness in light of this fact. However, driven by greed, the Duvaliers raided the fund for their own personal use, buying themselves many luxury items, such as designer clothes, jewelry, sports cars and expensive foreign homes.

It makes the Judiciary Report angry to read such accounts and reinforces the site's view, both Duvalier and Bennett, should be prosecuted and forced to forfeit every dime and worldly possession. So many Haitians fled their homeland under the Duvaliers' oppressive, murderous rule and had to start new lives in other nations. Justice must be served regarding the atrocities committed against Haiti's dead at home and departed Diaspora.

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Jean-Claude Duvalier's Ex-Wife Stole $94 Million From Haiti

Michele Bennett and Jean Claude Duvalier

According to the Miami Herald, Michele Bennett, the ex-wife of former Haitian President, Jean-Claude Duvalier, stole $94,000,000 from the nation of Haiti's treasury. Yes, you read that right - $94,000,000. This chick must be related to Madoff.

Bennett and her sons living the high life in France

The report was featured in the January 26, 2011 edition of the paper, in the article "For Haiti, no payback after Duvalier's reign." It was revealed, lawyers traced the massive sum back to her, after it was transferred from the nation's coffers and illegally so. The paper stated, "Over time, money traced back to Duvalier's ex-wife, Michele Bennett, totaled more than $94 million, according to an affidavit signed by former Haitian Justice Minister Francois St. Fleur."

Bennett and Duvalier's son living it up in France

The Duvaliers fled to France in exile, under a popular uprising, after 16 years of oppressing and robbing the people of Haiti. Not long after, Bennett divorced Duvalier and was given a large settlement, which she has used to live a very luxurious lifestyle, while her countrymen suffer in poverty and illness. That is infuriating. An additional $400,000,000 is missing from Haiti's treasury thanks to the Duvaliers.

Michele Bennett

Once again, as stated in the January 21, 2011 article "Jean-Claude Duvalier Apologizes To Haiti" it is the Judiciary Report's position, Bennett should be prosecuted and extradited, with all her assets and that of her children with Duvalier, seized and repatriated to the people of Haiti. Bennett was not born into wealth and her first marriage was to a policeman. Therefore, where did this $94,000,000 transferred to her come from (rhetorical). That money could do a lot of good in Haiti.

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Switzerland To Return Funds Duvalier Stole To Haiti

Jean- Claude Duvalier

The Swiss government has moved to return stolen money stashed in their nation's banking system, by former Haitian President, Jean-Claude Duvalier. The $7,100,000 shall be returned tot he people of Haiti on a humanitarian basis, under a recently enacted Swiss law that goes into effect today.

This move is aided by the Haitian government's correct decision to arrest Duvalier on corruption charges and crimes against humanity, which occurred during his 15-year reign (1971-1986). That $6,000,000 could feed many people in Haiti, which suffered a deadly earthquake a year ago. The cost of food is steadily rising in the world, therefore every little bit helps. I look forward to seeing Haiti get back on its feet.

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Jean-Claude Duvalier Returned To Haiti For The Money

Jean-Claude Duvalier

A recent report on a South Florida television station indicated, former Haitian President, Jean-Claude Duvalier, returned to Haiti from exile in France, to control earthquake aid money pouring into the island from the international community. The broadcast on NBC 6 in Miami stated, Duvalier seeks to take charge of the funds, as opposed to allowing former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, to manage the financial relief effort.

Other newspaper reports stated Duvalier also seeks to claim $7,100,000 in Swiss funds he stashed abroad that were later frozen by the government in Europe. A new Swiss law that goes into effect on February 1, 2011, will enable the government of Switzerland to return the money to Haiti on a humanitarian basis, which is the right thing to do, as the stolen funds belong to the people of Haiti, not Duvalier.

It is said Duvalier believed returning to Haiti before the law takes effect, would give him the opportunity to illustrate to Switzerland, his homeland saw no wrongdoing in his past brutal conduct and it is okay to unfreeze and turn over the funds to him.

However, the Haitian government promptly arrested Duvalier within 48 hours of landing in Haiti and have correctly charged him with crimes against humanity, corruption and theft of national funds.

As stated previously, Duvalier and his family cost the people of Haiti $500,000,000 in wealth that was stolen from the nation's coffers to bankroll a very lavish lifestyle and squandered on frivolities.

Yes, the Haitian people should forgive him, but Duvalier has shown through past conduct that he cannot be trusted with the nation's money. It is better to form a well-rounded, respected committee, consisting of financially astute members and outside auditors, to disburse the aid funds to the projects and areas most needed.

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Jean-Claude Duvalier

Former President of Haiti, Jean-Claude Duvalier, apologized to the people of his homeland today, for years of oppressive and bloody rule, which left 60,000 dead. $500,000,000 was stolen from the Haitian Treasury as well, damaging the island's financial structure.

After years of exile, living in France, Duvalier arrived in Haiti this week and was promptly arrested for crimes against humanity, corruption and theft. Duvalier states he intends to clear his name. However, it should be noted, lawyers retained by the government of Haiti on the island and in South Florida, have volumes of evidence indicating criminal wrongdoing.

Jean-Claude Duvalier and wife Michele Bennett in the 1980s

The Judiciary Report has wondered for some time, why Duvalier's ex-wife, Michele Bennett, who actively participated in criminal misconduct along side her husband, has not been arrested and all her ill-gotten assets seized. The millions Bennett spent on homes, cars, jewels and clothes, in addition to the massive sum still in her possession from the divorce, came straight from Haiti's treasury.

This is not her money and she is sitting on criminally acquired assets that belong to the people of Haiti. Bennett should have been prosecuted. After all, it was said she would famously take part in cabinet meetings and chastise government ministers. Irrespective of that, she was paid money in a divorce settlement that was not her husband's to give.

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Former Haitian President, Jean-Claude Duvalier and his family, cost the people of Haiti, an estimated $500,000,000 in stolen and misappropriated funds. The pillaging took place during his father François' tenure and his own. Had this money been properly invested, it would have reaped many millions more for Haiti's poor.

Duvalier and his family hid money abroad, purchased expensive sports cars, designer clothes, Louis Vuitton luggage, a chateau in France and an apartment in Paris. These unjustifiable expenditures infuriated Haitians at home and abroad, as they witnessed as their loved ones went without.

During a time of national financial struggle, Duvalier's wedding to Michele Bennet cost Haiti's taxpayers $3,000,000. A multi-million dollar home in Haiti was also given to Bennet's family to live in luxury as well (it was later seized by a new government and turned into an orphanage).

Currently, Haiti is considered the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere and it is not the Haitian people's fault. The earthquake is not the main reason either. Haiti, a nation of 10,000,000 people, should not be in this financial predicament and it is squarely due to the Duvalier years in office.

Haitian people worked hard, paid their taxes and it was squandered by the Duvaliers. Money that was needed to create jobs, expand infrastructure and build on social programs, went to bankrolling one family's lifestyle that almost rivaled Marie Antoinette and Saddam Hussein in extravagance.

None of the Haitians I know in Miami have ever spoken well of the Duvalier family. The mere mention of the Duvalier name brings back painful memories of tumultuous times in their beloved nation's history.

However, Haiti is at a crossroads. Like many nations, it has experienced a terrible natural disaster. It is time to rebuild on a new foundation and forgive old grievances, to help national emotional wounds heal. If Duvalier wants to help Haiti, as he has stated, he should give the nation his financial support and leave the governance to the next elected President.

Haiti Arrests Former President Jean-Claude Duvalier

A visibly ailing, Jean-Claude Duvalier, made his way from France back to his homeland of Haiti, only to be arrested hours after he touched down, for human rights abuses committed when he was President of the island nation.

At the age of 19, Jean-Claude succeeded his father, Francois Duvalier, as President of Haiti. He was unprepared for the role his father appointed him to, as he was not duly elected by the people and knew very little about successfully running a nation.

Jean-Claude Duvalier was ensconced in office from 1971-1986. During his bloody reign, over 60,000 Haitians were tortured and killed for opposing his rule. Duvalier and his money loving wife, Michele Bennett, looted Haiti's coffers to fund their very extravagant lifestyles.

The couple frequently took shopping trips, spending $100,000 on each outing. While they lived the high life, a segment of Haiti's population suffered in poverty and infirmity in City Soleil, which was originally named after his mother Simone Duvalier (Cite Simone).

Jean-Claude Duvalier in Haiti this week

Duvalier is being made to face the music this week and is a shell of his former self. He has the appearance of someone struggling with Parkinsons disease or Alzheimer's. It is a stark contrast to the Duvalier of 1986.

When he and his family fled Haiti for France, after a national uprising, Louis Vuitton bags lined the runway adjacent to their plane. They had pilfered millions of dollars from Haiti's treasury, only for it to be seized by world governments.

Duvalier, a former head of state, was humbled, forced to find work as a janitor in France to support himself. It was just and poetic, for all he and his family had stolen from the people of Haiti.

By this time, his wife had fled, stating she married the President of Haiti and not a pauper. During times of adversity, one learns who one's true friends are. His mother died embittered, after years of being pushed aside in favor of his wife's presence in his government, then losing their stolen possessions.