December 22, 2024
In a letter dated June 27, 2024, the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Attorney Carlos Hercule, asked the Public Prosecutor of Les Cayes, Attorney Ronald Richemond, to stay on standby while complaints against him are investigated.
The letter does not specify the nature of these complaints. However, the now former Public Prosecutor has been severely reprimanded by the former Minister of Justice, Mrs. Emmeline Prophete. The former Minister scolded Attorney Richemond for the manner in which he interrogated a hotel owner accused of lodging gang members. Mrs. Prophete accused the former Public Prosecutor of offering the hotel owner an opportunity to explain himself instead of summoning him to the courthouse for questioning.
This recall of Public Prosecutor Richemond raises questions over whether the Public Commissioner of Miragoane, Jean Ernst Muscadin – a couple of hours from Les Cayes – will also be recalled. Commissioner Muscadin has been very vocal about his zero tolerance towards gangs and has openly declared that he will execute any gang members he encounters. Commissioner Muscadin was also severely reprimanded by the former Minister of Justice for, among other reasons, leaving his jurisdiction to operate in another.