Two arrested Americans claim they were just 'translators' in the assassination plot, a Haitian judge

[Judi Lynn]

23. US, Colombia probe links to Haitian president's killing after arrests

09 July 2021 - 19:26
BY REUTERS



Image: Valerie Baeriswyl/Reuters

Police and intelligence agencies in the United States and Colombia are investigating links to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, after arrests of their nationals by Haitian authorities.

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Police in Haiti said the assassination was carried out by a squad of 26 Colombian and 2 Haitian-American mercenaries. The two Haitian Americans were identified as James Solages, 35, and Joseph Vincent, 55, both from Florida.

Seventeen of the men were captured after a gun battle with Haitian authorities in Petionville, a hillside suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince, while three were killed and eight are still at large, according to Haitian police.

Authorities are still hunting for the masterminds behind the operation, they said.

Two U.S. law enforcement sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an active investigation, said that agencies were looking into U.S. connections to the killing , but declined to comment specifically on the two suspects.

The sources said U.S. agencies were not assisting in the investigation in Haiti because Haitian officials had not requested their help.

Haitian officials have not given a motive for Moise's killing or explained how the assassins got past his security detail. He had faced mass protests against his rule since taking office in 2017 - first over corruption allegations and his management of the economy, then over his increasing grip on power.

Moise himself had talked of dark forces at play behind the unrest: fellow politicians and corrupt oligarchs who felt his attempts to clean up government contracts and to reform Haitian politics were against their interests.

More:
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2021-07-09-us-colombia-probe-links-to-haitian-presidents-killing-after-arrests/