Haiti Former First Lady Martine Moise Indicted for Being 'Complicit' in Jovenel Moise Assassination
Haiti's justice system is making strides in the investigation into Jovenel Moise assassination, with former first lady Martine Moise among the 70 individuals recommended for indictment by the capital's top prosecutor, according to Miami Herald.
While not directly accused of planning her husband's fatal shooting in July 2021, Jovenel Moise wife, Martine Moise, is implicated in the indictment based on alleged contradictory statements and claims of complicity.
The 122-page order from Investigative Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, who spent significant time on the inquiry, has been forwarded to a prosecutor.
This marks a crucial step toward notifying the defendants and organizing a trial, advancing a process that has endured for over two and a half years.
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Martine Moise Faces Complicity Allegations
Martine Moise, aged 49, is at the center of the indictment recommendation, accused of providing conflicting statements that suggest complicity in her husband's assassination, per the Daily Mail.
The indictment, obtained by the New York Times, highlights that a suspect in custody has accused her of aspiring to steal Jovenel Moise's presidency.
However, the decision to file charges against Jovenel Moise wife rests with a judge who will review the evidence.
Her lawyer, Paul Turner, vehemently denies the allegations, emphasizing that Martine Moise is a victim, much like her husband and children present during the tragic event.
A separate investigation by the US Department of Justice reportedly found no evidence implicating her. Some legal analysts argue that Martine Moise is a victim of Haiti's corrupt political system.
Contradictions and Political Accusations
In the indictment, Judge Voltaire notes Martine Moise's refusal to appear before the judge's chambers for questioning and highlights contradictions in her statements that have undermined their credibility, GazetteXtra noted.
The judge dismissed a civil complaint filed by the former first lady in October 2021 related to her husband's assassination.
The indictment also includes former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and ex-Police Chief Léon Charles, both in office when Jovenel Moise was killed.
Voltaire alleges the active participation of 10 former government officials or allies of the president in the events leading up to Jovenel Moise assassination.
Joseph, responding to the indictment, accuses current Prime Minister Ariel Henry of weaponizing the Haitian justice system against him and Martine Moise.
Former officials, including Joseph Félix Badio, identified by Badio as involved in the plot, were linked to the president's inner circle.
Badio, who spent two years on the run, claimed he was sent by former justice minister Rockfeller Vincent to infiltrate the plotters.
While Badio denied direct involvement in the assassination, he asserted that various interest groups within the National Palace, including Jovenel Moise wife, Martine Moise, aimed to remove Jovenel Moise.
The parallel US investigation and the Haitian inquiry have yet to reveal the mastermind behind the attack or identify the firearms used.
The indictment recommendation signifies a significant step in uncovering the truth behind the complex web of events leading to the tragic Jovenel Moise assassination of Haiti's former president.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
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