Judicial progress in the investigation into the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Rodolphe Jaar, who holds dual Haitian and Chilean nationality, pleaded guilty Friday (March 24th) in the United States to charges related to the case, according to court documents.

The 50-year-old admitted to providing "material support and resources" knowing it would be used to kidnap and kill the leader of the impoverished Caribbean country, according to his guilty plea.

He is the first to admit guilt among the 11 individuals detained in the United States and accused of planning the assassination from Miami, Florida.

Jovenel Moïse was killed in July 2021 by a commando of Colombian mercenaries in his private residence in Port-au-Prince without his bodyguards intervening.

According to the prosecution, Rodolphe Jaar had housed and armed the members of the commando. He was brought before a Miami court in January 2022, after his arrest in the Dominican Republic.

By pleading guilty, the man offered to help federal authorities investigating the murder of Jovenel Moise, in hopes of obtaining a reduction in sentence.

Rodolphe Jaar faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. His sentence was set for early June.

The thirst for money and power at the origin of the plot against Jovenel Moïse

The thirst for money and power is at the root of the plot to kill Jovenel Moïse, said Markenzy Lapointe, prosecutor of the Southern District of Florida, at a press conference held on February 15 in Miami.

On that occasion, he announced the arrest of four suspects, including Venezuelan Antonio Intriago and Colombian Arcangel Pretel Ortiz.

The U.S. investigation found that Intriago and Ortiz, directors of the Miami-based security firm CTU, had hatched a plan to kidnap the Haitian president and replace him with Christian Sanon, a Haitian-American citizen who wanted to become president of the Caribbean country.

In exchange for overthrowing Jovenel Moïse, they were promised lucrative contracts to build infrastructure and provide security forces and military equipment in a future government led by Christian Sanon – also indicted in the United States – according to prosecutors.

After failing to kidnap the Haitian president, the coup leaders reportedly decided to assassinate him with the help of a commando of 20 Colombians hired by the CTU.

With AFP

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