Martine Moïse, the widow of Haiti’s late President Jovenel Moïse, has been indicted alongside over 50 individuals by a Haitian judge on charges of complicity and criminal association in relation to the president’s assassination in 2021.
The indictment follows revelations by Lyonel Valbrun, the former Secretary General of the National Palace, who disclosed alleged plans by Martine Moïse to succeed her husband merely two days after his demise. According to Valbrun, Martine Moïse reached out with a proposition that hinted at a power grab, saying, “Jovenel didn’t do anything for us. You have to open the office. The president told Ti Klod [referring to ex-Prime Minister Claude Joseph] to create a council of ministers; he will hold elections in three months so I can become president; now we will have power.”
Valbrun also accused Martine of pressuring him to facilitate the provision of the president’s office for Claude Joseph’s “council of ministers.”
Further complicating Martine Moïse’s situation are investigator critiques of her inconsistent recounting of the night of the assassination, particularly her claim of hiding under the bed—a feat they deemed physically impossible, comparing it to a “giant rat…whose size measures between 35 and 45 centimeters” attempting the same.
Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire commented on the credibility of Martine Moïse’s statements regarding the attack, noting the inconsistencies were so significant that they cast doubt on her account.
Additionally, Valbrun raised suspicions about Martine Moïse’s actions before the assassination, noting her removal of “a bunch of things” from the National Palace under the cover of night.
Despite these allegations, Moïse’s legal representation argues that the indictment lacks concrete evidence linking her directly to her husband’s murder.
The case has sparked controversy, with several indicted individuals claiming Prime Minister Ariel Henry is manipulating the judicial process for political gains. Ex-Prime Minister Claude Joseph, also facing serious charges, criticized Henry’s actions, describing them as a misuse of the Haitian justice system to eliminate political adversaries and further a “Machiavellian agenda.”
The narrative surrounding the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse continues to unfold, with deep political rifts and accusations of judicial manipulation emerging as central themes in the ongoing investigation.
