Former Haitian senator John Joël Joseph suspected of Moïse’s assassination will be extradited to the US

A former Haitian senator who is one of the main suspects in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse agreed Thursday to be extradited to the United States to face charges, his lawyer told The Associated Press.

At the moment it is unknown when John Joël Joseph, who was arrested in Jamaica in January, would be extradited from the Caribbean island, said his lawyer Donahue Martin. He added that his client’s wife and two children have applied for asylum in Jamaica and are awaiting a response.

Martin declined to comment on the extradition agreement, and no further details were immediately available. Haitian government officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Two other suspects in the case — Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar and Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios — were recently extradited to the United States to face charges. Jaar was arrested in the Dominican Republic in January and Palacios was arrested in Jamaica in October.

Both are charged with conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and providing material support resulting in death, with the knowledge or intent that such material support would be used to prepare or carry out criminal association for the purpose of murder or kidnapping. .

More than 40 suspects have been arrested in the presidential killing, including 18 former Colombian soldiers. Colombian government officials have said that most of those soldiers were misled and were unaware of the real objective of the mission.

At the moment it is unknown what charges Joseph, an opponent of the Tet Kale party to which Moïse belonged, would face.

A report by the Haitian National Police that has not yet been made public but to which the AP had access cited several sources that claimed that Joseph had various ties to the July 7 assassination. At least one person identified him as one of the leaders.

According to the sources, Joseph paid the rent for the vehicles used by the attackers in cash and met with other suspects before the murder, which took place at Moïse’s private residence in the early hours of the morning.

The report also indicates that the former senator introduced other suspects to Joseph Badio, the alleged leader of the scheme who had previously worked for the Ministry of Justice and the government’s anti-corruption unit until he was fired.

Additionally, the report noted that James Solages, a Haitian-American arrested in connection with the case, had a WhatsApp conversation with Joseph about preparations for the mission. It also noted that Solage told authorities that Joseph, Badio and Jaar were among the leaders of the operation.

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