2021News

Colombian commando that murdered Moise entered via the DR

The Colombian commando that would have murdered Haitian president Jovenel Moise had been in Haiti since 6 June, arriving via the Dominican Republic. El Tiempo, the Colombian newspaper, reports the Colombians traveled from Bogotá to Punta Cana on 4 June. Social media photos show the Colombians acting as normal tourists before crossing to Haiti via El Carrizal on 6 June 2021.

The Haitian Police says that 26 Colombians and two Haitian-Americans participated in the raid that murdered the former President Jovenel Moise and seriously injured the Haitian first lady. The Police say they have arrested 15, three were killed, and eight of the participants in the raid to kill Moise are on the run. During a press conference in Haiti on 8 July 2021 broadcast on National Television of Haiti, Prime Minister Claude Joseph and Leon Charles, the director of the Haiti National Police explained the findings of the investigations that followed the assassination of the Haitian president, as reported in Haiti Libre.

During the press conference, the members of the arrested commando were presented and weapons and objects seized from the group.

Prime Minister Joseph has given the parents of assassinated President Moïse a guarantee that there will be justice in the case.

As reported in Haiti Libre, the Director General of the police, Léon Charles explained: “[…] against the foreigners who entered the territory and cowardly assassinated our President, the PNH mobilized all its staff to arrest these criminals who came to sow mourning on the territory, all the specialized SWAT units etc… […] were mobilized from the beginning to give an response, it is what makes that today I can present to the population these attackers.”

Leon Charles said: “There were 28 assailants (26 Colombians and 2 Haitian-Americans), we arrested 15 of the 26 Colombians, killed 3 and 8 are on the run. The 2 Haitian-Americans were arrested, we recovered the weapons, vehicles, their suitcases [passports, cell phones…]”

Haitian-Americans James Solages and Joseph Vincent say they were hired as translators and the mission was to arrest Moise, not to kill him. They said they found the job online.

The acting head of state of Haiti Claude Joseph has declared a state of siege and mourning for 15 days.

Judge of Peace Clement Noel told Le Nouvelliste that he had seen the corpses of two mercenaries, Colombians Mauricio Javier Romeo Medina and Duberney Capador Giraldo, in a street in Pétion-Ville.

The Police says they recovered firearms, the hard disk of the surveillance camera of the Jovenel Moise home, a checkbook belonging to the first lady, 20 bags, axes, wire cutters, clothes, food and money, 109 US$20 bills, a batch of 100 US$100 bills, a set of 99 US$100 bills and another set of 100 US$100 bills, 100 US$50 bills, 32 US$100 bills in a bulletproof vest, two rental car license plates and the car rental contract made with Avis on 6 July, many cell phones, among other items.

Judge Fidelito Dieudonne said the Colombians arrived to Haiti on 6 June 2021 from the Dominican Republic. They all had the same boots, observed the judge.

Defense Minister of Colombia Diego Molano confirmed that six of the Colombians under arrest in Haiti are former Colombian military. He said he has given instructions for the Colombia to provide assistance to the investigations in Haiti.

The authorities in Haiti are investigating the possible participation of the presidential security in the events. A video with audio revealing the shots fired during the raid makes apparent the security did not respond to the attackers.

Altagracia Salazar shared social media photos of the commando participants in the Dominican Republic.

Read more:
Haiti Libre
Le Nouvelliste
El Tiempo de Bogota
El Tiempo de Bogota
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
El Nacional
Diario Libre
El Caribe

Altagracia Salazar

9 July 2021