PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier was hauled into court to answer questions Tuesday as a legal case was opened against him nearly 25 years after he was ousted from power in a popular uprising against what was widely regarded as a brutal and corrupt regime.
Defense attorney Gervais Charles said the former Haitian dictator known as "Baby Doc" is facing accusations of corruption and embezzlement for allegedly pilfering the treasury before his 1986 ouster.
Charles said the case is now in the hands of a judge of instruction who will decide whether there is enough evidence to go to trial. That process can take up to three months.
Duvalier spent much of the day in a closed-door in a court session before answering questions.
Haiti's system allows for pretrial detention. But Mona Bernadeau, a Senate candidate from Duvalier's political party, the former leader was expected to return to his hotel after the court session ended.
National police officers patrol a corridor at the hotel floor where Haiti's former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier is staying in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday Jan. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)Earlier Tuesday, a contingent of police led the former dictator through the hotel and to a waiting SUV. He was not wearing handcuffs. Police did not say if he had been charged with anything.
Duvalier, 59, was calm and did not say anything, ignoring questions from journalists, as he was led away to cheers from some and jeers from others.
The SUV drove in a convoy of police vehicles to a courthouse, even as dozens of Duvalier supporters tried to block streets with overturned trash bins and rocks to try to prevent the former dictator from going to prison.
The courthouse was thronged with spectators and journalists, who were not permitted to enter to view the proceedings.
His companion, Veronique Roy, spoke to an Associated Press reporter by phone from inside the court, and asked if Duvalier had been arrested, said, "Absolutely not."
