The wife of Haiti’s former president, Jovenel Moïse, Martine Marie Étienne Moïse and former Prime Minister, Claude Joseph, are among 51 individuals implicated in the assassination of the late president. These allegations originate from a 122-page indictment by Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, reported initially by the Haitian news site AyiboPost.
Although critically wounded during the attack on her husband, Martine Marie Étienne Moïse now faces charges of complicity in the assassination. The document alleges that other testimonies contradict her statements, increasing suspicion of her involvement. Among them is the testimony of Joseph Badio, a key witness and suspect in orchestrating the actual assassination. However, it’s crucial to note that the indictment does not provide direct evidence of her participation or involvement in planning the act but bases the allegations on these testimonies and purported contradictions in her statement.
The assassination’s legal intricacies are deeply interwoven with Haiti’s unsettled political scenario. In the aftermath, Haiti has experienced an upsurge in gang violence and political instability. The investigation has also led to scrutiny of the Parti Haïtien Tèt Kale (PHTK), the political party founded by the late president. Several party affiliates have been implicated in the murder, adding further complexity to the investigation.
Haitian-Canadian activist and dissident, Jean Saint-Vil expressed his views to JURIST, stating, “the fact that Moïse’s assassination was an inside job involving his closest associates within the PHTK was expected from many Haitian observers, including myself.” Saint-Vil further highlighted the repercussions of the Ottawa Initiative on Haiti & 2004 coup that overthrew the entire state apparatus, which replaced duly elected Haitian rulers with individuals absorbed with personal interest.