The United Nations Panel of Experts on Haiti accuses a former mayor of Arcahaie, Rosemila Sainvil Petit-Frère, of financing gang leaders, laundering money and passing confidential information about planned police operations to members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition.

The allegations appear in a September report to the UN Security Council that the UN office in Haiti shared on Wednesday, October 7. The Council uses such reports to decide whether to impose sanctions.

The experts say Petit-Frère, a business owner, “played a key role in maintaining links between gangs and criminal, political, economic and security circles.” They allege that she disclosed information about at least three imminent police operations, and that her police connections helped her win uniform contracts without competitive bidding.

Petit-Frère disputed the allegations in a letter to the panel, the investigators say. She has not commented publicly. She was arrested in August 2025 while traveling through the Dominican Republic and was released in January 2026 on medical grounds. Her whereabouts are unknown. She has not been convicted of any crime.

The panel also alleges that she was the main beneficiary of money embezzled from the Social Assistance Fund, and that part of it went to gang leaders while the rest was laundered through businesses in Haiti.

The report names two former lawmakers as well. It repeats allegations against Alfredo Junior Antoine of Kenscoff, who rejects them. It also alleges that former senator Nenel Cassy controlled an armed group in Miragoâne, in the Nippes, and helped set up a violent group in the capital. The Haitian Times account does not include a response from Cassy.

Two other people the panel links to the same network, former lawmaker Prophane Victor and Magalie Habitant, have been detained since January 2025 and are awaiting trial. Both say they are innocent.