'Baby Doc’ to face trial for corruption says Judge

CMC – Judge Carves Jean Monday said that former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, who made a surprise return to Haiti, after 25 years in exile, should face trial for corruption committed during his 15-year rule.



Human rights groups have been campaigning for Duvalier, also known as “Baby Doc”, to face trial for the atrocities.



International rights groups such as Amnesty International say there is sufficient evidence to bring Duvalier to trial on various charges including corruption and human rights violation.



However, Judge Jean said the statute of limitations had expired on the human rights charges but not on the accusations of misappropriation of public funds.



The judge did not give a reason for his ruling, but there has been speculation that Duvalier used money from the treasury to finance his life in exile.



The judge said that his ruling must first be reviewed by the attorney general as well as by Duvalier and the victims of his regim,e who filed complaints against him.



The judge also said he recommended that the case be heard by a special court that handles relatively minor crimes.



If convicted Duvalier, faces no more than five years in prison.



Duvalier attorney Reynolds Georges said he would appeal the decision, as soon as he received the necessary documents.