Haitian judge: New child-trafficking charge filed against American missionaries’ leader
By APFriday, March 12, 2010
Haiti judge: New charge for US missionary leader
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The last of 10 American missionaries detained in Haiti on suspicion of kidnapping is facing a new charge.
Judge Bernard Saint-Vil says Laura Silsby has been charged for a newly discovered, alleged attempt to bus child earthquake survivors to the Dominican Republic on Jan. 26.
She already could face trial on kidnapping and criminal-association charges from her group’s attempt to take 33 children across the border without permission three days later.
Saint-Vil has added the new charge of “organization of irregular trips,” from a 1980 law restricting travel out of Haiti that was signed by then-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier.
The judge said Friday he has until early May to decide whether to release Silsby or order a trial.
