April 30, 2025
In the ongoing investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, who was killed on the night of July 6–7, 2021, the public prosecutor has recently called for additional information regarding the possible involvement of former Prime Minister Claude Joseph. Joseph had appealed an order implicating him, which raised suspicions without any tangible proof directly linking him to the assailants.
Public Prosecutor Claude Jean presented a submission to the Port-au-Prince Court of Appeal, underscoring the lack of evidence connecting the former Prime Minister to the attack’s perpetrators. Jean pointed out that the investigating judge’s conclusions were based on statements regarding Claude Joseph’s alleged ambitions to assume power, but without demonstrating any concrete plan or link to the organization of the attack.
Claude Jean advocated for the annulment of the order, arguing that a crime cannot be attributed to someone simply because they could potentially benefit from it, without clear proof of causation. He thus requested that the judges order additional information to determine whether there are actual connections between the appellant and the assailants.
Additionally, the Prosecutor urged the Court to consider favorably the appeals of several other individuals involved in the case, including Jean Laguel Civil, Zéphirin Ardouin, and Marky Kessa, requesting further investigations to assess their potential involvement as well.
