Status: 14.09.2021 9:18 p.m.
The investigation into the murder of the former President of Haiti, Moïse, is ongoing – and now the focus is on the man at the top of the current transitional government. Apparently the prosecution wants to bring charges against Ariel Henry.
Around two and a half months after the murder of Haiti’s former President Jovenel Moïse, the prime minister of the interim government, Ariel Henry, is targeted by the public prosecutor. As the media and news agencies unanimously reported, the investigators want to bring charges against Henry. This emerges from a letter that the public prosecutor sent to the responsible judge.
As the news agency dpa reported, another document is circulating on social media that is said to have been sent by the prosecutors to the country’s immigration authorities. In it, the investigators demand that Henry be prohibited from leaving Haiti for the time being. However, the authenticity of this letter cannot be confirmed. What exactly he is accused of is still unclear.
Telephone calls with the main suspect?
The AP news agency quoted Attorney General Bedford Claude. There are enough suspicions to bring charges against Henry. That is why the authorities should no longer allow him to travel abroad. It is also said that Claude asked Henry to comment on two phone calls. He is said to have held the relevant talks shortly after Moïse’s murder on July 7th – with Joseph Badio, one of the main suspects in the investigation into the presidential murder. Badio is said to have been near the crime scene at the time of the phone calls.
In August, the interim government assured Claude that the interim prime minister had never spoken to Badio, the AP writes, citing the public prosecutor. Badio had previously worked for the Ministry of Justice and the government’s anti-corruption department. In May he was released for alleged rule violations.
Henry appointed Prime Minister by Murdered Moïse
Moïse took over the office of President in February 2017. On the night of July 7th of this year, the then 53-year-old was attacked and shot in his residence by a heavily armed commando. According to police, Colombian mercenaries carried out the murder. More than 40 suspects were arrested after the crime, including ex-soldiers from Colombia. Badio and a former senator are still wanted by the police, according to the AP.
Less than 36 hours before his death, Moïse himself had appointed Henry as the country’s new Prime Minister. Since Henry could no longer be sworn in under Moïse, his predecessor, Claude Joseph, remained in office for the time being. About two weeks later, however, Joseph resigned and two days later the current transitional government under Henry was sworn in.