New information about the assassination of the Haitian president. His wife and former police chief indicted
Haiti's turbulent times are ongoing. After the assassination of the president in July of 2021, the country has been divided between gangs and crime organizations. The murderers have not been convicted, and it is still unknown who stood behind the crime. Now, a new report sheds light on the case. It is believed to destabilize the country further.
10:29 AM EST, February 20, 2024
The report has been released on Monday. On the list of indicted are President Jovenel Moïse's wife, former Haiti prime minister, and former chief of Police. There are also 47 more people suspected of taking part in the plot.
The murder
Jovenel Moise was murdered on 21st July 2021. A group of gunmen entered his mansion in Paurt-Au-Prince. The New York Times reported the assassination could have been linked with the intention of Moise to expose drug trafficking groups and gangs, including people in high office ranks in the Haitian government involved.
The country has since fallen into a period of severe destabilization. Heavily armed gangs and criminal groups have divided the territory, mostly the capital, between themselves and are carrying on with the wars between each other. There are suspicions that they are being supported by the Haitian government and Colombian drug cartels, as Haiti is a crucial port in the line of cocaine export route toward Florida.
Walther Wesser Voltaire is the fifth judge who is carrying the case. The four former ones have stepped down for various reasons, including mainly the fear of being killed or kidnapped. The judge has issued a 122-page report of the case of murder.
It turns out that Léon Charles, former chief of Haitian police, is facing the most serious charges and is responsible for the plot and close cooperation with gangs, including weapon supply.
The former prime minister of Haiti, Claude Joseph, has also been charged with engaging in the plot. He commented that (we quote after voanews.com):
Henry ... is weaponizing the Haitian justice system, prosecuting political opponents like me. It's a classic coup d'état. They failed to kill me and Martine Moïse on July 7th, 2021; now, they are using the Haitian justice system to advance their Machiavellian agenda.
Sources: voanews.com; france24; NBC news
