The Cour d’appel de Port-au-Prince has ruled in a case involving two prominent former senators, Youri Latortue and Joseph Lambert, over alleged corruption.
In a decision issued on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the court overturned a previous order by investigating judge Marthel Jean Claude, who had called for the arrest and referral of Youri Latortue to criminal court on charges of embezzlement of public funds and illegal conflict of interest. The same order had also referred Joseph Lambert to a correctional court for alleged obstruction of justice.
The case dates back to the period between October 2017 and January 2020. During that time, the public treasury reportedly issued nine checks to Carmen Immacula Cantave, the mother of Youri Latortue, under professional service contracts with the Senate. One of these contracts, dated October 2, 2017, was allegedly approved by Latortue himself while serving as Senate president.
Based on these elements, Judge Jean Claude had concluded that there were indications of misappropriation of public funds and illegal interest-taking. However, after appeals filed on June 26 and 30, 2023, the court adopted a different interpretation of the case.
In its ruling, the court found that the initial decision was “improperly ordered” and overturned the June 19, 2023 order. It emphasized that there was no legal basis for issuing an arrest warrant in a correctional matter in the case of Joseph Lambert, citing Article 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Regarding Youri Latortue, the court determined that it had not been established that he had taken, received, or retained any direct personal interest during his tenure as Senate president. It concluded that there were no “sufficient and consistent indications” to justify referring either man to trial.
As a result, both former senators were cleared of all charges, in accordance with Article 115 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The ruling was delivered by a panel led by Judge Joseph Jeudilien Fanfan, alongside Judges Raymond Jean Michel and Jean Claude Dabrezil, in the presence of prosecutor Rocky Pierre and court clerk Fleurimond Jean.
The court also ruled that legal costs would be borne by any party contesting the decision.
