20307: Marassa: Haiti's No. 2 Man. Aristide security boss nabbed in T.O. airport(fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: DeSprit Marassa <lwasauvaj@hotmail.com>

Fri, March 12, 2004

Haiti's No. 2 man

Aristide security boss nabbed in T.O. airport

By TOM GODFREY, SUN MEDIA


TORONTO -- The right-hand man and security chief for exiled Haitian
president Jean-Bertrand Aristide is in a Toronto holding cell on suspicion
of committing war crimes. Oriel Jean was intercepted Wednesday night at
Pearson airport after getting off a flight from the Dominican Republic,
police and security officials confirmed yesterday.

Police said Jean, who was travelling with his wife, was carrying $17,000
cash and had a cheque for about $300,000, when detained. Officials suspect
he had a Canadian bank account. His wife was later released.

Crimes against humanity

Police said Jean was interviewed for several hours by the RCMP and CSIS and
was detained on suspicion of crimes against humanity stemming from
Aristide's flight from Haiti last month.

Jean allegedly headed an elite 1,000-officer presidential security unit, who
secured the presidential palace, acted as Aristide's bodyguards, coordinated
state visits and suppressed opposition, said security officials in Canada
and the U.S.

Jean, who is alleged to have acted as Aristide's personal banker, is banned
from travelling to the U.S. due to allegations of drug trafficking.

Officers said the couple were travelling under valid visas obtained from an
official visit to Canada six months ago.

Immigration spokesman Tsering Nanglu said she couldn't confirm or deny the
incident. RCMP Staff-Sgt. Paul Marsh said his force does not identify
persons who might or might not be of interest.

"This man had great power and importance in Haiti," said Dr. Andre Arcelin,
former head of the Haitian Council of Montreal. "His detention is good news
for the people of Haiti."

Arcelin, a former Aristide doctor, said Jean was the second most powerful
man in Haiti.

"This man was very close to Aristide," Arcelin said. "People had to go
through him to see the president."

Aristide and his wife will travel to Jamaica early next week, Jamaican Prime
Minister P.J. Patterson said yesterday.

Aristide is staying in the Central African Republic. Patterson said Aristide
was not seeking political asylum in Jamaica.

Two groups of Canadian soldiers leave today for Haiti from CFB Gagetown,
N.B., and CFB Kingston, Ont., the military says.

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