Million Duvalier In Switzerland Likely To Return To Haiti
Surrounded by soldiers and about 100 journalists who came to witness the end of an era in Haiti, the dictator has risen to U.S. Air Force C-141 jet, and his glamorous wife, Michele Bennett, two children and 20 friends and servants .
In addition, the car that day was the designer frames, clothing, gold, precious stones and precious works of art. What is not reflected in the hundreds of millions of dollars to Haiti's Duvalier clan of officials accused of stealing the Treasury.
Looting the national treasury of Haiti is at the heart of the lawsuit against Duvalier, who stunned the world by returning to Haiti this week, about 25 years of exile in France quiet.
Some lawyers who have followed the money trail during the Duvalier years were surprised to see a man can legally enter Haiti, was not arrested immediately.
"I do not know how the criminal as he is free," said Enrico Monfrini, the Swiss-based lawyer who represented the Haitian government for a long drawn out legal battle over cash-Duvalier.
Duvalier has lost much of his fortune when he and Bennett divorced, but the family still has $ 5,700,000 of assets in a blocked bank account in Switzerland belonging to a family foundation.
Now the Swiss law was enacted specifically to help recover the stolen funds in the absence may help to restore the money to Duvalier in Haiti, said Daniel Thelesklaf Executive Director International Centre for Asset Recovery, Switzerland.
"I am optimistic about the decision to carry out year-end," he said.
The law will come into force in February was first adopted for Switzerland to help overcome existing barriers with countries that have no mutual assistance partnership with Switzerland or countries in difficulty who are unable to address these issues, as the Swiss Foreign Ministry.
In order for the court to return, the government must show a conflict of wealth "politically exposed persons" and his victory, as well as high levels of corruption in the country.
"They were able to draft this law very quickly," Monfrini said, adding that the process of Haiti does not interfere with the recovery efforts.
He said that $ 5,700,000 is not much compared to what would have stolen the Duvalier, but morally, for the repatriation of money would be a great victory.
But not perfect until Duvalier made to stand trial for his alleged crimes, said a human rights lawyer Mario Joseph, who has worked in Haiti, the construction of lawsuits against Duvalier.
Joseph said that none of Duvalier Haiti never imagined that he would return to legal action. Its presence in the country has allowed a judicial review of the 2008 case against the strong man, he said.
But Duvalier's lawyer, Reynold Georges, expressed confidence on Wednesday that the Haitian authorities have little evidence to file charges. Duvalier, "said George, not only remain a free man, but he could decide to return to politics.
George later told CNN that Duvalier had "all the money for the charity in Haiti relief following the earthquake.
"I do not know if the Swiss bank transferred the money already, so I have no further details," said George, "but I guarantee you this has been done."
Appalled by the idea of the return of a brutal dictator, Monfrini down the Haitian justice system to prevail, and the judge not to forget what you promised after Duvalier of Haiti devastating earthquake of 2010.
He expressed "complete solidarity" with those who were affected in "this time of great national emergency" and urged the Swiss authorities to transfer all the money from its fund for the American Red Cross for relief effort .
Monfrini doubt the sincerity of Duvalier, but not the new Swiss law.
"This money will go to Haiti for sure," he said. "He never returned to Duvalier."