PORT-AU-PRINCE — The United Nations Panel of Experts on Haiti has accused former Arcahaie Mayor Rosemila Sainvil Petit-Frère of financing gangs, laundering money, and leaking confidential police operation details to gang members linked to the Viv Ansanm coalition. The allegations were outlined in a report submitted to the UN Security Council in September and released by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on Wednesday.
The UN experts stated that Petit-Frère, who is also a business owner, has maintained significant connections with organized crime groups within the coalition. They claimed she played a crucial role in facilitating communication and financial transactions between these gangs and various political, economic, and security circles.
Although Petit-Frère has not publicly commented on the report, she did contest the allegations in a letter to the UN panel, which invited her to respond. Investigators revealed that she was arrested in August 2025 while traveling through the Dominican Republic from Canada, but she was released on medical grounds in January 2026. Her current whereabouts remain unknown.
The report comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in Haiti, with armed groups reportedly involved in numerous killings and attacks on police forces. The UN has documented thousands of fatalities in 2026 alone, emphasizing the ongoing impact of gang-related violence on public safety and national institutions.
Embezzlement and Money Laundering Allegations
According to the investigators, Petit-Frère had interactions with several leaders from the Viv Ansanm coalition, including Renel “Ti Lapli” Destina, who heads the Grand Ravine gang in Port-au-Prince. The report alleges that Petit-Frère provided confidential information regarding at least three planned operations by the Haitian National Police targeting these gangs.
The panel also suggested that her relationships with police officials allowed her to secure contracts related to law enforcement without undergoing the competitive bidding process, thereby evading proper oversight. Furthermore, it claimed that Petit-Frère was part of a network that included former lawmakers Prophane Victor and Magalie Habitant, both of whom have been accused of supporting gang activities and awaiting trial in connection with these charges.
The report alleges that Petit-Frère utilized her political influence to redirect public appointments and misappropriate state funds for her personal benefit. In one case, linked to a former director of the Social Assistance Fund entangled in embezzlement, Petit-Frère was described as the primary beneficiary, with part of the embezzled funds allegedly funneled to Viv Ansanm leaders and laundered through various businesses registered in Haiti.
Other Former Lawmakers Identified
The UN report also highlights former lawmakers Alfredo Junior Antoine and Nenel Cassy as individuals with connections to armed groups. Antoine, a former member of the Chamber of Deputies, reportedly armed youth groups to bolster his political ambitions, including involvement in a January 2025 attack in Kenscoff that resulted in over 100 deaths and numerous assaults.
Cassy has been accused of controlling a criminal faction known as BLTS in Miragoâne and of playing a role in establishing a violent group named Fantôme 509, which included members of law enforcement.
The UN Security Council is expected to consider this report in its deliberations about potential sanctions against those implicated in these allegations.
