Haiti: President Jovenel Moïse Assassination Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

The assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 rocked the foundations of the entire country. The main suspect in the assassination is businessman Rodolphe Jaar, who faces trial in a federal court in Miami, Florida, and has pleaded "not guilty."

The United States currently has the alleged assassin in its custody and has charged him with conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States. Jaar has also been charged with providing material support resulting in death. He is currently facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if found guilty.

Jaar Pleaded Not Guilty but Previously Confessed to His Crimes

Rodolphe Jaar, 49, is a dual Haitian-Chilean citizen. He is one of the main suspects in the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse. While he pleaded not guilty to the crimes he is accused of, TeleSur reported that he had already confessed to U.S. authorities about his participation in the plot.

Jaar reportedly told U.S. authorities that the initial plan was to arrest the Haitian president, but they later changed it to the assassination. They also initially planned to arrest the president at the airport and then take him away by plane. However, the plan never materialized.

He also confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to the Colombian soldiers and Haitian policemen who killed the Haitian president. However, he changed his tune in January, as he pleaded his 5th amendment rights during a preliminary hearing before Judge Lauren Fleischer Louis.

Jaar Planned Assassination With Haitians and Former Colombian Soldiers

The Washington Post reported that Jaar's trial did not last five minutes. Judge Chris M. McAliley accepted his plea, as well as his request for a jury trial. Jaar also did not speak, but his attorney asked the government to present all the evidence that it has against his client.

Jaar is one of the three defendants being held in the United States for the case. The other two are former Haitian Senator John Joel Joseph and former Colombian soldier Mario Palacios. Meanwhile, the government of Haiti has detained more than 40 people over their alleged involvement in the assassination. This includes 18 former Colombian soldiers, according to the Associated Press.

TeleSur also reported that the U.S. judicial body estimates that about 20 Colombian nationals, as well as several Haitian-Americans, are involved in the kidnapping-turned plot.

The plea came a year after the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021. A team of Haitian policemen and former Colombian soldiers stormed the Haiti presidential palace and assassinated Moïse.

Rodolphe Jaar, who previously worked for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as an informant, is currently being held inside a federal prison in South Florida. He was initially detained in the Dominican Republic, but U.S. authorities stated that he voluntarily agreed to be transferred to Miami and face his charges.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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