December 5, 2025
On August 2, 2025, the Port-au-Prince Prosecutor’s Office dropped the case against former Nippes senator Nenel Cassy, despite a report from the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) deemed “overwhelming.” This Monday September 22, however, Government Commissioner Fritz Patterson Dorval announced the file would be forwarded to the investigating judge’s office, reversing the earlier decision.
The DCPJ report notably accuses him of maintaining ties with highly active gang leaders and names him in the investigation into the killing of diplomat Jacques Pierre Matilus at Delmas 40B, where he was allegedly located at the scene of the crime. These elements are documented in a supplemental inquiry recently made public by the Je Klere Foundation (FJKL), which disputes the legality of the initial dismissal.
The case also has an international dimension: the United States has imposed sanctions on Nenel Cassy for “corruption” and for “acts undermining Haiti’s institutions,” including visa restrictions against him. His wife and children are among the close associates targeted by these sanctions.
The referral to the investigating judge follows months of public debate and sharp criticism from civil society, notably from FJKL, which decried a climate of impunity. Many see this about-face as a response to persistent calls to restore confidence in the justice system, while others note that the judicial timeline remains fragile.
