President’s Wife, Others Indicted In Haiti President, Jovenel Moïse’s Assassination.
By Caroline Ameh
Investigation into the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse, has unveiled a series of indictments implicating prominent figures, including the late president’s widow, Martine Moïse, and former Prime Minister Claude Joseph. The exhaustive 122-page report, obtained on Monday, exposes a web of chaos and corruption surrounding the events leading up to and during the fateful night of July 2021.
Former National Police Chief Léon Charles, currently Haiti’s representative to the Organization of American States, faces a litany of charges, including murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy against the state.
Meanwhile, Martine Moïse and Claude Joseph are accused of complicity and criminal association in connection with the assassination.
The judge’s report provides harrowing insights into the night of the attack, painting a picture of pandemonium as heavy gunfire erupted late on July 6, lasting between 30 to 45 minutes before armed assailants breached the presidential couple’s bedroom.
Martine Moïse recounted hearing the attackers identify targets and verify locations via video call as they ruthlessly searched for the president.
In a particularly gruesome detail, Moïse discovered her husband’s lifeless body with one eye gruesomely removed from its socket, underscoring the brutality of the assault. However, the report also raises questions about Moïse’s own statements, highlighting discrepancies that cast doubt on her credibility amid the ongoing investigation.
Furthermore, the report exposes troubling revelations about the security arrangements at the president’s residence. Despite the presence of police officers, witnesses reported a glaring lack of adequate protection, with some officers disarmed or allegedly bribed to remain inactive during the attack.
Beyond Moïse and Joseph, the indictment implicates several other individuals, including Haitian-American pastor Christian Emmanuel Sanon and former DEA informant Joseph Vincent. Both were extradited to the United States to face federal charges related to the assassination, underscoring the international ramifications of the case.
