A dramatic turn of events has occurred in the case involving the former Director General of the General Customs Administration (AGD), Romel Bell. The Port-au-Prince Court of Appeal has declared the referral order issued by Investigating Judge Jean Wilner Morin “legally non-existent,” leading to a full discharge for the defendants.
Ruling in a public criminal hearing on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the appellate court—composed of President Raymond Jean-Michel and Judges Dufrène Guillaume and Jean Frédéric Bénêche—accepted the appeals filed by the defendants. The court identified significant procedural irregularities, specifically noting that Judge Morin was not present on Haitian territory when the order was issued and that the document failed to meet legal signature requirements.
The original order by Judge Morin had held serious charges, including money laundering, financing of terrorism, and illicit enrichment. These charges stemmed from an Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) investigation that alleged Bell had concealed a significant portion of his assets and failed to declare several bank accounts and properties. However, this appellate ruling effectively overturns those proceedings, ending the prosecution of Romel Bell, his wife Anna Dorvil Bell, and Duken Augustin at this stage.
