PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: A leaked document from Haitian Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire has revealed that around fifty individuals, including the late president’s widow Martine Moise and former Prime Minister Claude Joseph, have been charged in connection with the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s last president.
According to the 122-page document, made public by AyiboPost, Moise and Joseph allegedly conspired to orchestrate the president’s murder to advance their own political ambitions.
The assassination occurred on July 7, 2021, when armed assailants stormed into the president’s bedroom in Port-au-Prince, fatally shooting him. The attack also left the former first lady injured.
Judge Voltaire’s order mandates the arrest and trial of all individuals charged in the case. While Moise and Joseph have not yet responded to media inquiries, Moise has previously denounced what she perceives as unjust arrests and political persecution on social media.
In response to the allegations, Joseph accused President Ariel Henry, who succeeded him shortly before the assassination, of exploiting the Haitian justice system for political purposes. He characterized the situation as a “classic coup d’etat” orchestrated by Henry.
However, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s office maintained that the judge acted independently and in accordance with the law. Henry, who has faced challenges in maintaining security and stability in Haiti, has postponed elections indefinitely due to various crises, including a devastating earthquake and the rise of powerful criminal gangs.
International efforts to support Haiti’s security forces have faced skepticism, with concerns raised about prior abuses by foreign missions and allegations against Henry’s government. Despite these challenges, a separate case related to the assassination is being tried in Miami, where several defendants have pleaded guilty to involvement in the plot.
