Haitian prime minister fires justice minister amid murder accusations

Haitian prime minister fires justice minister amid murder accusations

Prime Minister Henry has been accused of being involved in assassination of former president Jovenel Moise

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Haiti has been plunged in political turmoil since former President Jovenel Moise was assassinated on July 7.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry appointed Liszt Quitel as the new Minister of Justice hours after firing Rockfeller Vincent late on Wednesday.

Henry’s dismissal of Vincent comes a day after he fired Bedford Claude, the country's top prosecutor, who was seeking charges against Henry following his alleged involvement in the assassination of Moise. Henry's dismissal of Claude was based on an undefined, “serious administrative fault.”

Meanwhile, Secretary General of Haiti's Council of Ministers, Renald Luberice, resigned saying Henry was not cooperating with Justice.

"I cannot remain in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers under the direction of a person appointed by Jovenel Moise, who has been accused in his assassination, and who has no intention of cooperating with Justice," he published on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

Henry was summoned to testify after the investigators confirmed a series of phone calls between him and Joseph Felix Badion, one of the three main suspects in the assassination, who is currently believed to be on the run. The prime minister has denied the accusations.

Henry met on Wednesday with a key group of diplomats composed of ambassadors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France and the European Union, as well as representatives of the UN and the Organization of American States. After the meeting, the group issued a statement calling for "light to be shed on the assassination of Moise" and for the perpetrators "to be sought and brought to justice".

Moise, 53, was assassinated by armed commandos at his home in Port-au-Prince.

One day before his death, Moise appointed Henry but he was not sworn in. After the assassination, interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph took control of the country unleashing a crisis for the political class. Days later, Joseph handed power to Henry, who promised to form a provisional consensus government until elections were held.

Authorities confirmed 26 suspects have been arrested, including three police officers and 18 former Colombian soldiers involved in the assassination.

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