SANTO DOMINGO.- The Haitian gang that kidnapped the Dominican diplomat Carlos Guillen Tatis is asking for 500 thousand dollars in ransom, A top-level intelligence source confirmed to EL DÍA.
The agricultural and commercial attaché of the embassy of Dominican Republic in Haiti was kidnapped on Saturday on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince when he was on his way to the Dominican Republic to spend the weekend with his family.
The authorities confirmed that the kidnapping was produced by the 400 Mawozo gang, the same one that last year kidnapped 17 American missionaries for whom they asked for a millionaire ransom. Although the missionaries were released, it was never reported whether the ransom was paid, nor was there any information on police-military operations to achieve their release.
The Dominican Government, through its embassy in Port-au-Prince, demanded from the Haitian Foreign Ministry that the authorities of that country order an immediate investigation for the “safe and sound” release of Carlos Guillén Tatis.
We invite you to read: What is the 400 Mawozo gang that kidnapped a Dominican diplomat in Haiti
So far neither the Haitian nor the Dominican authorities have officially reported the kidnapping, treating the case as “disappeared.”
Guillen Tatis was kidnapped in the area of Croix-des-Bouquetswhile on his way to the city of Jimaní, coming from Port-au-Prince.
The ambassador, Faruk Miguel, reported that he had made the request for an investigation in compliance with instructions from the dominican Government, given by Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez.
Faruk Miguel attached to the Haitian Foreign Ministry a communication delivered to the Central Directorate of the Haitian Judicial Police, with the complaint about the apparent kidnapping, and a screenshot of the last phone calls made on Guillén Tatis’s phone.
These communications were sent at the request of the Haitian authorities. The Dominican ambassador establishes that the request for the Dominican counselor to be released safe and sound is covered by articles 25 and 26 of the 1961 Vienna Convention.
who leads the band
Almost a year ago, Haitian police issued an arrest warrant for a man named Wilson Josephalleged leader of 400 Mawozo (400 Rookies).
The warrant charged Joseph with murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, carjacking, and hijacking cargo trucks.
The supposed leader is also known by the nickname “Lanmò Sanjou”, which means “death without day”.
The gang known as 400 Mawozo (400 Rookies) rose to worldwide fame for the kidnapping of 17 North American Mennonite missionaries for whom they held a ransom. The missionaries were released in small groups without the authorities of the United States or Haiti ever admitting that they paid the ransom, but also without having confrontations with the gang.
