PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The press office of Haiti’s President Michel Martelly says he won’t interfere in the case of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier.
Friday’s statement comes five days after an investigative magistrate recommended that the former ruler known as “Baby Doc” face trial for alleged financial crimes, but not for human rights abuses associated with his regime.
Human rights groups allege the judge ignored testimony and laws that would have enabled prosecution on the more serious crimes. Some activists also complain that many of the new government’s officials have personal or family ties to the Duvalier regime of 1971 to 1986.
Duvalier returned to Haiti last year after 25 years in exile.
