Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, former death-squad leader and known human rights abuser, has spent the past 14 years - in Haiti and in the U.S. - trying to evade justice, whether it be for rape and other torture of the Haitian people or swindling money out of people and banks in New York. He was a leader of FRAPH (Revolutionary Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti) during Haiti's 1991-1994 military rule, which claimed the lives of an estimated 5000 Haitians and orchestrated a systematic campaign of rape and other torture, arson and executions against the residents of the poorest communities in Haiti. In 2004 CCR and the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) filed Doe v. Constant on behalf of three women who survived FRAPH’s campaign of violence against women. In 2006, the court found Constant liable for torture, including rape, attempted extrajudicial killing and crimes against humanity.
In 2006, Mr. Constant was arrested for mortgage fraud in New York and the trial began on July 8, 2008. CCR is monitoring the trial to share important information with Haitian human rights activists who anxiously await a day when Mr. Constant will face criminal charges in Haiti for his human rights abuses.
Trial Sentencing Update
On October 28, 2008, Judge Abraham Gerges handed down a stiff sentence for Haitian former death squad leader Emanuel “Toto” Constant who was found guilty on all counts of grand larceny and mortgage fraud this summer. Constant is to serve 12.3 to 37 years for his crimes against the people of New York.
Click here for more information on this trial development and CCR's response to the sentencing.
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Extended Press Coverage |
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| July 8th 2008: New York Daily News Danny Glover Op-Ed |
July 8th 2008: WNYC Haitian Groups Demand Justice |
| July 15th 2008: NY Sun A Most Unusual Mortgage Fraud Case |
July 23rd 2008: Cooper Anderson 360 Blog Face to face with murder, torture and mortgage fraud |
| July 23rd 2008: NY Daily News Former Haitian death squad head fights fraud charges |
July 23rd 2008: International Herald Tribune Former Haitian paramilitary leader takes witness stand |
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July 23rd 2008: International Herald Tribune Former Haitian paramilitary leader takes witness stand |
July 24th 2008: Caribbean World News Haiti's Toto Constant Proclaims Innocence |
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July 25th 2008: Fox News Ex-Haitian Strongman Convicted of Mortgage Fraud |
July 29th 2008: CNN Haitian strongman convicted of mortgage fraud |
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July 31st 2008: Haiti Liberte One Year Later, Still A Mystery |
August 8th 2008: The Indypendent Haitian Death Squad Leader Convicted for Mortgage Fraud |
Below are first hand chronicles of the events transpiring within the courtroom during these proceedings. (Click on a PDF to reveal the details.)
Special Thanks to our supporters and volunteers ...
Dwa Fanm, International Support Haiti Network, Center for Justice and Accounability, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), City Councilmember Charles Barron, Lavalas Family, Joanna N.L., Eva. N, Cassandra L., Annie R.M., Sean B.L., Bob L., Jeff D., Susie Z., Vivien T., Danye G., Isabel F., and Stephan G.
