In a stunning move, a Haitian judge has ordered the arrest of more than 30 former top officials, including ex-presidents and prime ministers, for allegedly looting the public coffers.
The judge claims that the officials siphoned off millions of dollars from the National Equipment Center, a state agency that handles heavy machinery for infrastructure projects. The accused officials, who span several administrations, could not be reached for their reactions.
No arrests have been made so far, as many of the suspects are either in hiding or abroad. This is not the first time that Haitian authorities have tried to crack down on corruption, but their efforts have often been met with resistance or indifference by the powerful elite.