- A charge has been brought against the wife of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in relation to his July 2021 killing. A court looking into Moïse’s killing accused around 50 people, including former prime minister Claude Joseph, former head of Haiti’s National Police, Léon Charles, and Moïse himself. The most severe accusations against Charles are attempted murder, unlawful gun ownership and transportation, plotting to undermine the state’s internal security, and criminal affiliation.
- Martine Moïse was charged with plotting to assassinate President Joseph so that she could take over as his successor. Other suspects include presidential security chief Dimitri Hérard, former Haitian senator John Joël Joseph, Haitian-American pastor Christian Emmanuel Sanon, who saw himself as the country’s next president; Joseph Vincent, a Haitian-American and former informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration; and Windelle Coq, a senator from Haiti who is reportedly a fugitive. For Moïse’s murder, eleven defendants have been charged at the federal level in the US, including Mr. Sanon and Mr. Vincent, who were extradited to the country.
- The US has maintained that because the murder plan was partially developed in South Florida, the matter is within its jurisdiction. Three have been punished in the United States; among them is John Joël Joseph, who received a life sentence for his involvement in Moïse’s demise. Over forty individuals are now being imprisoned in Haitian prisons for trial.
- The indictments are predicted to cause more instability in Haiti as the country deals with an increase in gang-related violence and recovers from a wave of violent protests calling for Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation. Since Moïse’s passing, no presidential candidate has been chosen to succeed him, and no election has been held.
- Citing the horrific 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the increasing influence of highly armed criminal gangs, Mr. Henry announced an indefinite postponement of the polls, for which he has requested international assistance. According to estimates, gangs currently have sway over much of Haiti’s capital.
© Provided by The Independent
Source:
The Independent
