The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) has taken note of the circulation on social media of four wanted notices issued by the DCPJ and denounces their absurd, illegal, and arbitrary nature.

The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) has taken note of the circulation on social media of four wanted notices https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46806-haiti-news-zapping.html issued by the DCPJ against :

- Arnel Belizaire, for financing terrorism, attacks, conspiracy against the internal security of the State, and criminal association;

- Ralph Youri Chevry, for financing terrorism, attacks, conspiracy against the security of the State, and criminal association;

- Smith Joseph, for money laundering, financing terrorism, attacks and conspiracy against state security, and criminal conspiracy;

- Édouard Julcene, for illegal trafficking of firearms and ammunition, money laundering, financing terrorism, tax fraud, and criminal conspiracy.

All those involved are considered by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) to be armed and dangerous, except for Smith Joseph.

"The RNDDHbelieves that the arrest warrant issued against Arnel Belizaire, an ally of the terrorist coalition Viv Ansanm, is a farce because he is a close friend of the current director of the DCPJ, Divisional Commissioner Justin Marc, and has had access to the institution since September 22, 2025."

The RNDDH also considers that "the notices issued against Ralph Youri Chevry, former President of the Port-au-Prince Municipal Council, Edouard Julcene, former Director of the Port-au-Prince Customs Administration, and Smith Joseph, a member of the cabinet of Presidential Advisor Fritz Alphonse Jean, are illegal and arbitrary and tend to sow confusion in public opinion."

The RNDDH reiterates that Ralph Youri Chevry, Smith Joseph, and Edouard Julcene were never summoned by the DCPJ (Central Directorate of the Judicial Police). They are not subject to any summons, arrest warrant, or warrant issued against them under Articles 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, and following of the Code of Criminal Procedure;

To date, the names of those involved do not appear in any investigation report from the Central Unit for Economic and Financial Intelligence (UCREF) or the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) regarding the crimes of financing terrorism and money laundering with which they are charged by the DCPJ.

The RNDDH recognizes the obligation of DCPJ agents to conduct investigations to establish the truth within the framework of ongoing legal proceedings. However, the RNDDH emphasizes that these investigations must be conducted in strict compliance with judicial guarantees such as the presumption of innocence, prior and detailed notification of the charges, and the right to a fair trial, enshrined in the Haitian Constitution on the one hand, and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the American Convention on Human Rights on the other, instruments to which Haiti is a party.

The RNDDH emphasizes that, lacking a legal framework, wanted notices can only be logically understood and acceptable in cases where the individuals concerned are fugitives, either after being caught in the act of committing an offense, pursued by public outcry, having escaped from prison, or being subject to an arrest warrant. However, the individuals targeted by these wanted notices fall into none of these categories. Furthermore, their good faith and willingness to cooperate with a potential judicial police investigation have never been tested, as they have not been summoned beforehand by the DCPJ.

The RNDDH reiterates that under no circumstances should the judicial police be used as a tool, as this would constitute a clear violation of the principles of the democratic rule of law. The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) denounces the absurd, and illegal and arbitrary, nature of these wanted notices and emphasizes that a wanted notice cannot be the trigger for an investigation or prosecution by the judicial police.

In conclusion, the RNDDH recommends that the DCPJ suspend these wanted notices and adhere to the law for all investigations conducted by the institution.

Photo caption from left to right : Arnel Belizaire, Ralph Youri Chevry, Smith Joseph, and Edouard Julcene

HL/HaitiLibre