A judge in Haiti has officially charged Martine Moïse, the widow of murdered President Jovenel Moïse, in connection with his assassination on July 7, 2021. Martine Moïse, who sustained injuries during the attack that claimed her husband's life, is among dozens of individuals facing charges following a two-year investigation into the assassination.
According to a leaked legal document from a Haitian news site, Martine Moïse has been accused of “complicity and criminal association.” Neither she nor her legal representative has yet commented on the specific charges. However, Martine Moïse has taken to social media in recent days to denounce what she perceives as unjust arrests and ongoing persecution, although her current whereabouts remain undisclosed.
The leaked document charges a total of 51 individuals but fails to identify those responsible for ordering and financing President Moïse's assassination. The late president was fatally shot at his private residence on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince by a group primarily composed of Colombian mercenaries.
The latest charges came to light when the Haitian news site Ayibo Post leaked the indictment. According to the 122-page document, Martine Moïse and 50 other suspects face various accusations laid out by Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, the fifth judge overseeing the murder inquiry.
Among the allegations against Martine Moïse is a claim by Lyonel Valbrun, former secretary-general at Haiti's National Palace, who alleges that she visited the palace two days before the assassination and spent five hours removing unspecified items. Valbrun implies that Martine Moïse's actions suggest foreknowledge of the impending events.
Another suspect, former Haitian Justice Ministry official Joseph Felix Badio, accuses Martine Moïse of plotting to oust her husband from power in collaboration with then-Prime Minister Claude Joseph. According to Badio, the plan involved Joseph assuming leadership until elections were held, with Martine Moïse running for president.
Claude Joseph, too, faces charges of conspiracy and criminal association. However, he contends that he and Martine Moïse are being targeted by current Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whom he accuses of benefiting from President Moïse's murder. Henry, while not indicted by Judge Voltaire, has faced scrutiny for his alleged involvement in the assassination.
Despite the ongoing investigations in Haiti, four individuals have already been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States for their roles in the plot to topple President Moïse, underscoring the international dimensions of the case.
