Haitian authorities have arrested a doctor from Florida who could have organized the murder of Jovenel Moiz

Haitian authorities have arrested a doctor from Florida who could have organized the murder of Jovenel Moiz

Haitian authorities have arrested a man who, according to them, helped organize the assassination of President Jovenel Moiz, the country’s police chief said on Sunday.

Moiz was killed on Wednesday at his home in Port-au-Prince in an attack that shocked a country already experiencing a surge in violence and political instability.

The suspect is a 63-year-old doctor from Florida and a native of HaitiChristian Emmanuel Sanon-arrived in the country on a private plane in June, Police Chief Leon Charles said at a press conference.

The authorities did not specify what exactly Sanon will be charged with or what his motives are, but noted that he arrived with «political intentions». In a YouTube video recorded in 2011, a man makes a speech that indicates his presidential ambitions.

Sanon allegedly contacted a Venezuelan security firm from Florida to recruit 26 Colombian mercenaries and two Americans of Haitian origin. Their first task was to ensure the security of Sanon-but the directives allegedly changed over time.

The police previously stated that a group of 28 people is suspected of the murder. At least 20 of the suspects were detained, including two US citizens. Three more suspects were killed, while five suspects remain at large.

Sanon’s detention followed the arrest of two Americans, whom local authorities identified asJames Solages andJoseph Vincent.

The men themselves said that they were not in the room when the president was killed, and that they worked exclusively as translators for the militants, the NYT writes.

The Americans also told the judge that the purpose of the attackers was not to kill the president, but to take him to the national palace.

The US State Department confirmed that it is aware of the arrests, and it is assisting with investigations at the request of Haiti.

In addition, on Sunday, a White House official said that a delegation with representatives of the State Department, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security had been sent to Haiti. Officials are also considering a request from Haiti to send several hundred American troops to help with stabilization efforts.

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