Spoliation (theft of land), usurpation of title, swindling, destruction of public and private property, death threats, attempted murder, criminal conspiracy: these are just some of the charges brought against Benitho Petit-Frère”, declared Jacmel’s Government Commissioner, Me Pierre Wilner Dormévil, at a press conference in the South-East.
No fewer than 17 complaints have been lodged against the very powerful alleged criminal Benitho Petit-Frère, who is incarcerated on the orders of the Jacmel Government Commissioner.
The alleged criminal, who generally enjoyed impunity due to his political links, was arrested on Thursday February 22, confirmed the Public Prosecutor.
Originally from Belle-Anse, in the Baie d’Orange locality, Bénito Petit-Frère was at the head of a vast network involving political and judicial authorities in the South-East.
Petit-Frère and his accomplices specialize in falsifying and forging public documents in order to illegally strip peaceful citizens of their assets, either legally acquired or inherited from their parents over several generations. He also allegedly attempted to assassinate Emmanuel Louis at Bois Boeuf, in the first communal section of Bas-Cap Rouge, Jacmel, on February 20, 2024, during a land dispute, according to well-informed sources.
“As long as I’m in the department, I’ll stand behind the laws as a prosecutor defending society. If society complains about a group of bandits and criminals who are in the way, whatever their relations, I will incarcerate them”, said the Government Commissioner for the South-East.
To rob citizens of their property, the alleged criminal uses unfair methods, notably by pouring coffee over stolen property titles before forcibly appropriating land and other real estate from residents, revealed the Government Commissioner, deploring the support Benitho Petit-Frère received from political and judicial figures to commit his misdeeds.
Spoliation is a very common phenomenon in Haiti.
Many citizens are dispossessed of their landed property by individuals who are generally very powerful because of their political, judicial and other connections.
Spoliators also use notorious bandits to carry out their dirty deeds.
The rise of armed gangs across the country has further complicated the situation. Notorious crinimals are forcibly appropriating the properties of peaceful citizens who are forced to leave their homes.
