The Haitian Government has requested to the Dominican Republic the extradition of the former mayor of Port-au-Prince Ralph Youri Chevry, who the Moise government links to armed gangs that are causing chaos in Haiti.
“The Government has made a formal request to the Dominican Government to return to Haiti the citizen Ralph Youri Chevry”, announced the Haitian Government Communication Secretary, Frantz Exantus, in a press conference on 24 February 2021.
Chevry, who was arrested on 14 February in the border city of Dajabón, “is closely related to the bandits who have been sowing terror in the country for some time”, said the Haitian government official.
He said the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police has solid evidence that proves the ties of the former mayor of Port-au-Prince with bandits.
There is no extradition agreement between the two countries, but the Dominican Republic has extradition dispositions for cases where there is no agreement. He acknowledged Haiti has accused Chevry of attempted murder and of complicity with criminal groups.
The mayor was arrested together with a Haitian policeman for entering armed and without adequate documentation. The Haitian justice has issued an arrest warrant for the former mayor.
Haiti Libre reported on 19 February 2021 that Foreign Relations Minister Roberto Alvarez had confirmed the mayor was detained in Santo Domingo after his arrest on Sunday, 14 February for illegal entry to the country, without a passport or visa and with two pistols with Haitian permit, but without Dominican authorization. Alvarez at the time said that Chevry had not submitted a request for political asylum or other status.
Coinciding with this situation, the Dominican Republic is requesting the assistance of the Haitian government for the return of two Dominican citizens that were kidnapped in Haiti when working as part of a documentary crew.
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Haiti Libre
24 February 2021