Aristide cronies' accounts probed

[Rose Siding]

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Two Haitian panels probing allegations of corruption under former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide say they have found evidence that millions of dollars were paid into bank accounts held by one of Aristide's foundations, by his wife and by officials of his government for unknown purposes.
...
Aristide's Miami attorney, Ira Kurzban, said that if any government funds were transferred to bank accounts of the president's wife or his social works foundation, they went to legitimate government expenditures.

''They did it legitimately and they did it for a public policy. This was not money that was routed into the pockets of the president to buy a yacht in Miami,'' he said.

For now, Gousse and Nol say they are putting together a list of about 29 Aristide associates who received government funds without explanations. They will soon turn over the list to prosecutors, who could then seek search or arrest warrants.
...
A top Haitian official aware of the U.S. investigation said the American agents are investigating a U.S. bank account held by Mildred Aristide and have found suspicious bank accounts held by Aristide associates in Panama, Canada, Greece and Finland.

U.S. law enforcement officials declined comment on the Haitian officials' reports.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10471779.htm?1c

Last week's protests must have lit a fire under the 'investigation'


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1080846

[Florida_Geek]

1. Aristide was ELECTED by the people and Colon had

him tossed out of the country... As with IRAQ they are looking for valid excuse.

[Vidar]

2. At least their "corrupt" officials were elected.