Former Colombian soldier guilty of assassination in Haiti

He Former Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios He pleaded guilty this Friday to conspiracy to commit murder President of Haiti Jovenel Moïsewho was killed on July 7, 2021 in his private residence in Port-au-Prince.

In federal court in Miami, South Florida (USA), Palacios pleaded guilty to three counts, including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States, and is expected to be sentenced to life in prison.

The 45-year-old Colombian thus becomes the fifth defendant to plead guilty to the assassination of Moïse, out of a total of eleven detained by the American justice system on criminal charges.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Palacios, who was arrested in Jamaica several months after the assassination, is one of nearly 20 former Colombian soldiers who were recruited, along with several Haitian-Americans, for the kidnappings and murders. Moses.

Palacios’ sentencing hearing will be held on March 1 before federal judge José Martínez.

He President Moïse He was fatally shot 12 times during a raid by a military squad on his home in the Haitian capital. His wife, Martine Moïse, was injured in the attack.

That same week, former Haitian senator Joseph Joël John was sentenced to life in prison in federal court in Miami for his role in the plot, after pleading guilty to four felony charges in October.

Before Judge Martínez, John explained at the sentencing that he was involved in the plan because the idea was to arrest the former president and depose him, but not to kill him.

According to court documents, between February and July 2021, South Florida “served as a central location for the planning and financing of a conspiracy to overthrow President Moïse and replace him with someone who would serve the political goals and financial interests of the conspirators.”