PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A Haitian judge responsible for investigating the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise has indicted his widow, Martine Moise, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and the former head of Haiti's national police, Léon Charles. , in a report released Monday.
The allegations are expected to further destabilize Haiti as it grapples with an increase in gang violence and recovers from a spate of violent protests demanding the resignation of incumbent Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Dozens of suspects were indicted in a 122-page report issued by Walther Wesser Voltaire, the fifth judge to lead the investigation after previous ones resigned for various reasons, including fear of assassination.
Charles, who was police chief when Moise was killed and now serves as Haiti's permanent representative to the Organization of 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 associations.
Meanwhile, Joseph and Martin Moise, who were injured in the attack, are accused of complicity and criminal organization.
Charles could not immediately be reached for comment, and Martin Moise's attorney did not return a message for comment.
Former Prime Minister Joseph, meanwhile, shared a statement with The Associated Press accusing Henry of "undermining" the investigation and profiting from the president's death.
"Henry ... is arming the Haitian justice system, prosecuting political opponents like me. It's a classic coup," Joseph said. "They failed to kill me and Martin Moise on July 7th, 2021, now they are using the Haitian justice system to advance their Machiavellian agenda."
Joseph again called on Henry to resign and noted that when he was prime minister, he had invited the FBI to help local authorities investigate the murder and had written to the United Nations and the OAS for help.
"I will not stop my fight. Justice must be served," he said.
In his report, the judge noted that Lionel Valbrun, the former secretary general of the National Palace, told authorities that he received "strong pressure" from Martin Moise to put the office of the president in Joseph's hands because he "needed it to organize a cabinet."
He said that two days after Jovenel Moes was killed, Martin Moes called him and said, "Jovenel has done nothing for us. You have to open the office. President T. Claude has asked him to form a council of ministers; he will. Hold elections in three months so that I can be president, now we will have power."
Although the document does not identify T Claude, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph is known by this name.
The judge also said in his report that Martin Moyes had "offered" to take refuge under the marital bed to protect himself from the attackers, but he noted that authorities found at the scene "not even a giant rat ... measuring 35 and 45". Centimeter" can fit under the bed.
The judge said the former first lady's statements were "so tainted with contradictions that they leave something to be desired and discredit her."
Others who face charges including murder are Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian-American priest who fancied himself the next president of Haiti and said he thought Moise would simply be arrested; Joseph Vincent, a Haitian-American and former informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration; Dimitri Herrard, Chief of Presidential Security; John Joel Joseph, a former Haitian senator; and Windle Kok, a Haitian judge who authorities say is a fugitive.
Sanon, Vincent and Joseph were extradited to the United States, where a total of 11 suspects face federal charges in the assassination of the Haitian president. At least three of them have been sentenced.
Meanwhile, more than 40 suspects are awaiting trial in Haitian prisons, although it was not immediately clear how quickly one would be detained after Monday's indictment. Among them are 20 ex-Colombian soldiers.
Milena Carmona, wife of Jenner Alberto Carmona Florez, told The Associated Press that he is innocent.
"What is happening is that this crime is a massive conspiracy where powerful people are running everything behind the scenes, and that is why they are not being given freedom," he said of the ex-soldiers.
US prosecutors described it as a conspiracy to kidnap or kill mercenaries in both Haiti and Florida, who was 53 when he was killed in his private home near the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.
According to witnesses, the attack began late on July 6 and ended on July 7.
Martin Moise and others who were questioned said they heard heavy gunfire starting around 1 a.m. that lasted 30 to 45 minutes before armed men entered the presidential couple's bedroom.
Moyes said he was lying on the ground when he heard the attackers shouting, "It's not! It's not! It's not!"
He said the suspects made a video call to locate the exact location of what they were searching for when they killed the president. He added that he fell face down when the suspects tilted his head and grabbed him by one of his toes "to make sure he wasn't alive".
Once they left, Moise said she pulled herself to the ground and whispered to her husband that she was going to try to get to the hospital.
"That's when he noticed that the president was dead and that his left eye had been removed from its socket," the report said.
Moyes said a group of about 30 to 50 police officers were supposed to guard the presidential residence, but the judge noted that only a few officers were present that night. One officer told the judge that he heard the explosion and a voice through a megaphone saying, "Don't shoot! This is a DEA operation! US Army! We know how many officers are inside. Get out with both hands down."
Another official said the first lady's security chief found her in a "critical state" around her two children. He said he saw an undetermined number of people emerge from the presidential residence "with briefcases and several envelopes."
The report quoted Inspector General Andre Vladimir Paraison as saying the president called him at 1:46 a.m. and told him, "Paraison! Man, hurry up! I'm in trouble! Hurry up and save my life." He said he encountered heavily armed men and could not immediately enter the residence.
Officials at the scene said they found bullet holes in the car, windows and doors of the president's private home, cut surveillance cameras and a broken lock on the double wooden door leading to the president's bedroom.
The judge said some police officers at the residence were disarmed and handcuffed, while others "had time to throw themselves down a ravine" to safety. In addition, the police officer overseeing the president's security was accused of receiving $80,000 in bribes to certain officials to "remain inactive" during the assassination, according to reports.
The judge noted how "none of the policemen providing security to the Head of State were in danger. Unfortunately, the Head of State was killed with ease."
Source: NRP News
