PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: A judge in Haiti investigating the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse reportedly indicted his widow Martine Moïse, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and former Haitian National Police chief Léon Charles, among others.
The allegations are expected to further destabilize Haiti as it grapples with an increase in gang violence and recovers from a series of violent protests demanding the resignation of current Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Dozens of suspects were indicted in a 122-page report issued by Walther Wesser Voltaire, who is the fifth judge to lead the investigation after previous ones resigned for various reasons, including fear of being killed.
Charles, who was the police chief when Moïse 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 organization.
Meanwhile, Joseph and Martine Moïse, who were injured in the attack, are accused of complicity and criminal association.
Meanwhile, Joseph, the former prime minister, shared a statement with the media accusing Henry of “undermining” the investigation and profiting from the president’s death.
Other charges including murder are Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian-American pastor who envisioned himself as Haiti’s next president and said he thought Moïse would only be arrested; Joseph Vincent, a Haitian-American and former informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration; Dimitri Hérard, head of presidential security; John Joël Joseph, former Haitian senator; and Windelle Coq, a Haitian judge who authorities say is on the run.
Sanon, Vincent and Joseph were extradited to the US, where a total of 11 suspects face federal charges in the assassination of the Haitian president. At least three of them have already been sentenced.
