HAITI
Associated Press
By EVENS SANON
Apr. 30, 2015
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A judge in Haiti has dismissed the case against a U.S. citizen who was accused of abusing residents of an orphanage that he has run for three decades in the Haitian capital.
Michael Geilenfeld, who had been in custody since his Sept. 5 arrest, was released Wednesday after a brief trial before a judge in Port-au-Prince.
Five former residents of the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys had accused Geilenfeld of physical and sexual abuse. None of the alleged victims, all adults now, testified at the trial.
Defense lawyer Alain Lemithe said the accusations were vague and unsubstantiated.
“They had nothing against him,” Lemithe told The Associated Press on Thursday. “They had no proof whatsoever so he has been released.”
Manuel Jeanty, a lawyer for the victims, said neither he nor any of his clients attended the proceeding because they weren’t notified in advance that it would be taking place. He said he planned to file an appeal.
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