Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb 12, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Judge Bernard Saint-Vil, the Haitian Judge who was entrusted with the responsibility of deciding the fate of the 10 arrested Americans has ruled that they would be let free. The Americans, who belonged to a baptist group, had been arrested on the charges of taking children illegally out of the country, which is still reeling from the after effects of the earthquake. The Americans had been arrested while they were applying to enter the Dominican Republic. They had about 33 children with the, but they did not have any validating papers with them.

Despite the group’s repeated assurances that they were merely trying to help the orphaned an destitute children, they were not believed, fed on by the rumors of fake adoption agencies selling Haitian boys and girls. Judge Bernard Saint-Vil has declared that he recommends the release of the American group. He will now have to convey his recommendation to the prosecutor, but whatever the latter decides, the final verdict will be as per the jurisdiction of the judge.

Judge Bernard Saint-Vil came to his conclusion after having talks with the parents and families of the 33 children who were with the missionary group that day. The concerned witnesses testified that the children had been given away to the American group so that they could be saved from the earthquake ravaged country. They said that they had hoped that the baptist group would take the responsibility of educating the children and take right care of them. For the time being, while the trial awaits the decision of the prosecution, the Americans have been granted a provisional release.