Port-au-Prince, Haiti –
– Authorities say they have arrested Haitian lawmaker Arnel Belizaire, who faces charges including financing terrorism and plotting against state security.
This is Belizaire’s latest arrest in a country Where powerful political figures have been operating with impunity for a long time. Some have been linked to gangs financing and supporting control over an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
Late Sunday, Haiti’s National Police announced the end of the search for the renowned lawmaker, who had first faced charges nearly two months ago.
Belizaire had earlier described the arrest warrant against him as a political threat. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.
Belizaire had registered his new political party. At the end of last week for the upcoming general election.
The US government had accused Belizaire of “significant corruption” just last year, announcing that he and his immediate family members were barred from entering the United States.
Belizaire was arrested and sentenced to prison on illegal weapons charges in the early 2000s. He escaped and was re-arrested but escaped again while being chased to Haiti. The devastating earthquake of 2010.
He was elected to Haiti’s parliament in 2011 and was arrested again when police discovered he had fled during the earthquake. He was later released after political pressure.
Belizaire was arrested again several years ago after being accused of arms trafficking, but those charges were dropped.
