Databec|Haitian judge seeks to interview widow of slain president in leaked warrant obtained by AP

2025-04-28 15:09:17source:Indexbit Exchangecategory:Finance

PORT-AU=PRINCE,Databec Haiti (AP) — A Haitian judge investigating the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse issued an arrest warrant for his wife late last year for failing to meet with him so he could interrogate her about the case, according to a legal document leaked late Monday that The Associated Press obtained.

The warrant is dated Oct. 25 and signed by Judge Walther Voltaire, who is overseeing an ongoing investigation into the killing that occurred at Moïse’s private residence, where authorities say a group of heavily armed men shot him a dozen times and injured his wife, Martine Moïse.

The one-page warrant contains little detail except to say that authorities are seeking to interview Martine Moïse about the case. It does not state nor suggest any involvement.

Martine Moïse could not be immediately reached for comment, and a spokesman for an attorney of hers based in Florida said he was trying to reach her.

Other news Haitians suffering gang violence are desperate after Kenyan court blocks police force deploymentAmerican founder of Haitian orphanage sexually abused 4 boys, prosecutor saysKenya’s high court rules that deploying the nation’s police officers to Haiti is unconstitutional

Messages sent to people close to her went unanswered.

After the July 7, 2021 assassination, Martine Moïse was airlifted to a hospital in Florida for treatment. She returned unannounced to Haiti less than two weeks later, surprising many. Since then, she is believed to be residing in the U.S. and has on occasion posted about the assassination on X, the platform formally known as Twitter.

In December, she wrote that the “assassins…feel that their reign of impunity and untouchability seems to be coming to an end.”

This month, she repeated her call for an international tribunal to investigate the case, writing, “Haiti stand up, so that the social injustice done to the people can be repaired.”

In June last year, attorneys for Martine Moïse filed a lawsuit against those accused in the killing seeking unspecified damages and a trial by jury.

Voltaire, the judge investigating the case, did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

He was appointed in May 2022 to oversee the case, becoming the fifth judge to do so. Previous judges have stepped down, including one who said he feared for his life and another who left a day after one of his assistants died under unclear circumstances.

The case has largely stalled in Haiti, where more than 40 suspects were arrested in the killing, including 18 Colombian soldiers and at least 20 Haitian police officers.

Meanwhile, U.S. authorities have prosecuted several extradited suspects in the case. Four of 11 suspects in Miami have pleaded guilty, including a retired Colombian army officer and a former Haitian senator.

___

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

More:Finance

Recommend

Angie Murimirwa: From hiding in the bathroom to Time's most influential people list

I don't mean to humble brag, but I am on a first name basis with one of the most influential people

Tropical Storm Debby barrels toward Florida, with potential record-setting rains further north

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Debby strengthened rapidly Sunday and was expected to become a hurricane

Olympic gymnastics recap: Suni Lee, Kaylia Nemour, Qiu Qiyuan medal in bars final

PARIS — U.S. gymnast Suni Lee won bronze in the uneven bars final on Sunday at the 2024 Paris Olympi