Following the audit of receipts and expenditures of the Town Hall of Petit-Goâve https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14102-haiti-petit-goave-millions-gourdes-spent-without-justification.html the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes (CSA/CA) auditioned on June 23 the former executive agent, the Mayor Sandra Jules and the other two members of the communal administration, on the 13 million gourdes spent from 2012 to 2015.

During this hearing, only 2 million gourdes expenditure have been justified by Sandra Jules... For the other 11 million gourdes, no supporting documents could be provided by the former municipal team.

After deliberation, the judges have rendered a judicial decision, called "arrêt de débet" against three former temporary agents of the executive (Sandra Jules, former Director of the mayor and the Chief Accountant) for mismanagement of public treasury funds...

Note that a "arrêt de débet" is made in the case of irregular public funds management pursuant to Article 19 of the Decree of 23 November 2005 on the organization of CSA/CA which states "The decision that commits the Accounting financial responsibility of law or fact either by finding embezzlement, misappropriation, theft or extortion either by falling within wrongdoing to the Treasury or to the financial interests of local governments and autonomous bodies takes the title of 'arrêt de débet'"

Following this decision, two possibilities may be presented for justice :

• When the act stems from negligence, incompetence or irresponsibility of public accountants of law or fact, it leads against the latter restitution, compensation and financial penalties in favor of injured bodies ;

• Where it is established by all types of evidence generally accepted that the act attributable benefits directly or indirectly to the accounting of law or fact, the "arrêt de débet" will be communicated without delay to the Commissioner of the Government of competent civil court for the suites that the case requires.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14102-haiti-petit-goave-millions-gourdes-spent-without-justification.html

HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goâve)