In 2021, the widow, ex-prime minister, and former police chief were charged with the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse.
A judge investigating the July 2021
The killing of President Jovenel Moïse
On Monday, a final report was released that accuses Martine Moïse, the widow of the late president, along with former prime minister Claude Joseph and former chief of Haiti’s National Police Léon Charles, among other individuals.
The charges are anticipated to be brought against.further destabilize Haiti as it struggles with a
Increase in gang-related violence
Following a series of tumultuous demonstrations calling for the current Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down, the country has now begun to heal. The 122-page report from the judge has named approximately 50 individuals as suspects.
Charles, who now serves as Haiti’s permanent representative to the Organization of the American States, faces the most serious charges: murder; attempted murder; possession and illegal carrying of weapons; conspiracy against the internal security of the state; and criminal association.
John Joël Joseph, a previous senator from Haiti; and Windelle Coq, a current senator from Haiti who is considered a wanted individual by authorities.
Sanon, Vincent, and Joseph were sent back to the United States, along with 11 other people, to face charges for their involvement in the assassination of Haiti’s president.
Currently, there are over 40 individuals who are being held in jail in Haiti, waiting for their trial. However, it is uncertain how soon a trial will take place after the judge released their findings on Monday.
The report published on Monday stated that they were able to uncover the extent of involvement and roles of various groups of criminals who collaborated under the influence of Machiavellian strategies devised by authors, co-authors, accomplices, and henchmen in order to carry out the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
American prosecutors have characterized it as a scheme devised in both Haiti and Florida to recruit soldiers for the purpose of abducting or assassinating Moïse, who was 53 years old at the time of his murder at his personal residence near the Haitian city of Port-au-Prince.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
According to witnesses, the attack started on the evening of July 6 and concluded on July 7.
Martine Moïse and others who were questioned reported hearing intense gunfire starting at 1 a.m. and lasting for 30 to 45 minutes before armed individuals entered the presidential couple’s bedroom.
Moïse stated that she was lying on the ground when she heard the assailants shouting, “That’s incorrect! That’s incorrect! That’s incorrect!”
According to her, the individuals responsible for the president’s death used a video call to pinpoint the precise location of their target. She also mentioned that she was lying face down while the suspects turned her head and pulled on one of her toes to confirm that she was deceased.
After they departed, Moïse shared that she crawled on the floor and quietly told her spouse that she intended to make her way to the hospital.
According to the report, she observed that the president was deceased and that his left eye had been taken out of its socket.
According to Moïse, a team of approximately 30 to 50 police officers were designated to protect the president’s home. However, the judge observed that only a few officers were actually on duty that evening. One of the officers stated in court that they heard loud noises and a megaphone announcement instructing them not to fire their weapons, as it was a mission carried out by the DEA and US Army. The voice warned them that the authorities were aware of the number of officers inside and urged them to surrender with their hands lowered.
A different officer reported that the security chief for the first lady discovered her in a “severe state” with her two children nearby. The officer also witnessed an unspecified number of individuals exiting the president’s home carrying briefcases and multiple envelopes.
The Inspector General, André Vladimir Paraison, reported that the president contacted him at 1:46 a.m. and urgently requested, “Paraison! Move quickly! I am in danger! Come right away and rescue me.” Paraison explained that he was met by heavily armed individuals and was unable to immediately enter the residence.
The report from the judge mentioned that certain officers at the house had their weapons taken away and were restrained, while others were able to protect themselves by quickly taking cover in a ravine.
The report stated that none of the police protecting the head of state were in harm’s way, yet the assassination was carried out with ease.
Source: cbsnews.com