Judge suspended after school principal accused of raping a child in Haiti is released

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC - The Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) has suspended judge Merlan Belabre for three months following complaints relating to a case in which a minor was raped by a school principal in Haiti.

In a letter sent to the judge, the President of the CSPJ, Jean Joseph Lebrun, said the decision to suspend him followed an investigation into his ruling and that "it was decided, at the statutory meeting of Thursday, January 16, 2025, to place you on leave for a period of three (3) months pending your appearance before the Disciplinary Court which will rule definitively on your situation".

The January 17 letter was also copied to the Dean of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince and the Personnel Service of the Higher Council of the Judiciary.

The complaints surround the decision of the judge to release the principal of the school who had been accused of raping a 14-year-old minor, who became pregnant as a result.

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