A weekslong feud between two of Haiti's top lawmen ended this week with the abrupt resignation of the country's top prosecutor.
Just days after declaring in a press conference that the only way he would leave his post as Port-au-Prince district attorney is if he were fired, Claudy Gassant handed in his resignation late Monday. He confirmed his resignation in an e-mail to The Miami Herald on Tuesday, but declined further comment.
The resignation was the final episode of a melodrama between Gassant -- the man tasked by Haitian President René Préval with rooting out corruption -- and Petionville Police Commissioner Frantz Georges.
The story featured a high-profile cast of characters including President Préval, making a brief cameo as the referee forced to temper outsized egos. The scenes revolved around exclusive summer beach bashes and a congested Port-au-Prince street.
And the plot included a police chase, allegations of kidnapping and a disputed slap in the men's bathroom.
The supporting cast included the owner of a security firm -- a close friend of the police chief who has given protection to everyone from international hip-hop stars to foreign diplomats -- and a former journalist who now handles media for the president.
The opening scene took place on a July weekend at the Ayiti Men Konpa Festival when Gassant and a security guard got into an argument after Gassant was refused re-entry into the party.
It ended with Gassant ordering a gun check at the konpa concert and jailing security firm owner Fayed Esper on charges of having an illegal firearm.
Days later, police issued a bulletin on a car involved in an alleged kidnapping. They were patrolling the streets of Delma district in Port-au-Prince when they spotted an SUV fitting the description of the vehicle.
Gassant and Assad Volcy, who handles media for Préval, were having a drink together at a popular hangout spot when Volcy reportedly received a call about the police chase involving his car. According to press reports, the car was abandoned but not before the alleged suspects threw out a gun.
Gassant arrived at the scene and egos collided between him and Commissioner Georges. When police attempted to tow Volcy's car, Gassant intervened. At some point, there was another standoff -- this time involving Georges and two of Gassant's prosecutors. Gassant later accused Georges of kidnapping his prosecutors.
Gassant then took to the radio to publicly defend Volcy and hinted that police were out for revenge for the arrest of Esper, the security firm owner who was jailed at the konpa festival a couple days earlier.
On Aug. 2, another Gassant-Georges flare-up: T-Vice, a popular konpa band, performed for a beach party at the Club Indigo resort. Gassant and Georges were both in the bathroom.
Georges' version: He went to say hello to Gassant and as he was reaching out for a handshake, Gassant slapped him.
Gassant's version: Georges was taunting him. He told Georges he was ''being unreasonable,'' and refused to shake his hand. Georges then brutally grabbed his arm to force the handshake. Gassant claims he only defended himself and did not slap him.
As the Haitian press reveled in this new ''Affaire Gassant,'' the chief prosecutor issued an arrest warrant against Georges, accusing him of ''kidnapping'' his two prosecutors for two hours the week before. Just hours later, Georges' lawyer announced that he had filed a complaint against Gassant for hitting his client. Gassant was summoned to appear in court in the city of St. Marc. He refused, handing in his resignation letter instead.
Miami Herald writer Cyril Pressoir in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.
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Haiti;s prosecutor resign
