UPDATE: Haitian mayor found alive, no ransom paid

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti,  CMC – The Mayor of the Commune of Estère, Senèque Estimable, who was last seen walking towards the capital late last month, has been found alive, his lawyer, Samuel Madistin, has confirmed.

The attorney said that no ransom had been paid for the mayor, who he said was kidnapped on May 23.

He said his client was not abused and that the kidnappers had tried, without success, to force him to sign a cheque in their name.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities expressed concern over the disappearance of the Mayor and had urged citizens to remain calm, especially the residents of Estere, a commune in the Gonaïves Arrondissement, who had ransacked public buildings “in reaction to this previously unexplained disappearance” of the Mayor.

The Ministry said that Estimable was last seen on May 23 walking in the direction of the capital.

Madistin said Estimable had been released during the early hours of Tuesday and had made contact with a police patrol and members of the Motorized Intervention Brigade.

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