Judge Carves Jean, presiding judge over the prosecution of Duvalier for human rights violations, confirmed to the Associated Press recently that the decision to bring the former dictator to trial will be announced by the end of January.

The statement follows several recent breaches "Baby Doc" made against the terms of his house arrest. Reports state that Duvalier has left the capital at least twice in the past few weeks and has been spotted at popular restaurants around Port-au-Prince.

Duvalier also left the capital for the coastal city of Gonaives last December to deliver a speech at the graduation ceremony of the School of Law, Economics and Management (EDSEG). He was also seen at a memorial for the 2010 earthquake anniversary on January 12, outside the capital.

In a closed hearing on Friday, January 20, Judge Jean warned Duvalier that he'll "be going straight to the national penitentiary," if he violated his house arrest again.

Duvalier reportedly apologized to the judge for not seeking consent before leaving, defending his decision due to not being able to contact the judge in time for official approval.

Duvalier is being investigated for crimes, including corruption and human rights violations, during his violent, 15-year dictatorship. The case has so far proceeded slowly since it was launched days after Dulavier arrived in Haiti in January, 2011, after 25 years spent in exile in France.

This past month, Amnesty International released a statement demanding that Duvalier be brought to trial.

"The widespread and systematic human rights violations committed in Haiti during Duvalier's rule amount to crimes against humanity. Haiti is under the obligation to prosecute him and anyone else responsible for such crimes," said Javier Zuñiga, Special Advisor at Amnesty International.

"The judge was under pressure from human rights groups, international and local," defense lawyer for Duvalier, Reynold Georges, told reporters after the hearing. "This is why he called in President Duvalier."