Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-30 10:35:38
A warrant was issued by a Haitian judge last year for the arrest of Martine Moïse, the wife of former president Jovenel Moïse, as she failed to meet with the judge for questioning regarding the assassination of President Moïse in July 2021. The warrant, dated Oct. 25, was signed by Judge Walther Voltaire, who is overseeing the ongoing investigation into the killing that took place at the Moïse’s private residence. President Moïse was shot a dozen times by a group of heavily armed men, and his wife, Martine Moïse, was also injured in the attack.
The warrant contains little detail and only states that authorities are seeking to interview Martine Moïse about the case, without suggesting any involvement on her part. Martine Moïse was not immediately available for comment, and messages sent to her went unanswered. She was airlifted to a hospital in Florida for treatment after the assassination, and she returned to Haiti less than two weeks later. Since then, she is believed to be residing in the U.S. and has occasionally posted about the assassination on social media.
In December, she expressed her belief that the “assassins feel that their reign of impunity and untouchability seems to be coming to an end.” She has also called for an international tribunal to investigate the case in order to repair the social injustice done to the people of Haiti. Last year, her attorneys filed a lawsuit seeking damages and a trial by jury against those accused in the killing.
The judge overseeing the case, Judge Voltaire, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He was appointed in May 2022 and is the fifth judge to oversee the case, as previous judges have stepped down, citing fear for their lives or unclear circumstances surrounding the case. The investigation has largely stalled in Haiti, with over 40 suspects arrested, including Colombian soldiers and Haitian police officers. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities have prosecuted several extradited suspects, with four out of 11 suspects in Miami pleading guilty.
