More than 130 people claiming to have been sexually abused at a charity school closed in Haiti have reached a $60 million deal with a Jesuit University in Connecticut and other defendants.

The deal was announced yesterday Friday and must be approved by a federal judge in Hartford.

Among the defendants are Fairfield University, the Society of Jesus of New England, the Order of Malta and Haiti Fund Inc., who financially supported the Haitian school.

Douglas Perlitz, one of the founders of the Pierre Toussaint school project for homeless children in Cap Haitien, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sexually abusing male students.

Authorities at Fairfield University said the institution was not operating the school in Haiti, but decided to reach an agreement on the trial to prevent victims from suffering grievous trials.

HL/ HaitiLibre