HAITIAN anti-corruption investigators wore caps and face masks on Tuesday as they stood behind boxes of evidence purporting to show that high-ranking government officials are guilty of crimes ranging from illicit enrichment to abuse of office.

The newest cases range from food meant for state school students allegedly being diverted for other purposes to government fuel apparently being used for personal benefit.

“These personalities have betrayed the country,” said Anti-Corruption Unit director-general Hans Joseph, who has been relentless in his pursuit of illegal activities despite there being little or no repercussions for the accused.

He said the corruption cases unveiled on Tuesday had cost the Haitian government the equivalent of £3.5 million, “an amount that paradoxically exceeds twice the budget allocated to the [agency] to fight corruption.”

One case involves National Solid Waste Management Service director-general Germain Paulemon and other officials at the agency.

The report states that while it disbursed $1.7m (£1.2m) to buy fuel from December 2021 to April 2024, only 45 per cent of what was purchased was used for the agency’s daily operations. The rest was used by the director-general and others, the report alleges.

“As a director-general, I find it normal to use the institution’s cash register to support myself,” Mr Paulemon told investigators, according to the report.

He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Officials noted that 90 per cent of the providers in a £2.2m national food programme “did not physically exist” and that some were run by the programme’s own employees.

Mr Joseph said that his office has also demanded declarations of assets from 14 diplomats, ambassadors, consuls and consul generals who have yet to submit any information.