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[INTERNATIONAL] · United States, Haiti, Colombia · 5 sources

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Haitian president assassination trials resume in Miami federal court

Trials regarding the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have resumed in a Miami federal court. More than 40 individuals have been charged in connection with the killing, which occurred on July 7, 2021, when approximately two dozen mercenaries, primarily from Colombia, attacked Moïse's residence near Port-au-Prince.

Among those appearing in court is Joseph Badio, a former employee of the Haiti Ministry of Justice. Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a dual Haitian-American citizen and Florida pastor, is also facing trial. Sanon faces eight charges, including conspiracy to kidnap or kill a person outside the United States, and has pleaded not guilty. Authorities allege Sanon aspired to become Haiti's president.

U.S. prosecutors state that South Florida served as a central location for the planning and financing of the plot. Court records suggest that the mercenaries were paid using funds obtained from U.S. government COVID-19 pandemic relief programs. To date, at least a dozen people have been convicted, with five currently serving life sentences.

Entities

Christian Emmanuel Sanon · Joseph Badio · Jovenel Moïse · Martine Moïse · United States Department of Justice

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