Haitian youth involved in UN abuse case goes to testify in Uruguayan court

Haitian youth involved in UN abuse case goes to testify in Uruguayan court

PORT-AU-PRINCE: A Haitian youth at the center of a United Nations abuse investigation has left the Caribbean nation to testify in a Uruguayan court on Thursday.

Allegations of abuse surfaced last September after the young man accused six UN sailors from Uruguay of sexually abusing him on a base in southern Haiti.

The peacekeepers were dismissed from the U.N. and later freed from jail pending a military trial on charges of violating rules against fraternizing with civilians inside military bases.

The sailors initially called the episode a prank. The news angered many Haitians and gave ammunition to those who have been demanding a departure by the U.N. mission.

The youth left Haiti Tuesday evening with his attorney and a family representative. They are due to arrive in Uruguay Wednesday morning.

THE TIMES OF INDIA