Kingston – A former Haitian senator who was being sought in connection with the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, will reappear in a court here in February, his attorney has said.
Attorney Donahue Martin, who is representing John Joel Joseph, his wife and two children, told the Jamaica Observer newspaper that his clients had appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court in Half-Way-Tree on Thursday and were remanded until the next court appearance on February 15.
“The indication to the court was for discussions to be had,” he told the Observer.
“I can’t comment beyond that.
“The matter has some amount of sensitivity to it and, as a result, my comments have to be very limited.”
Joseph, along with his wife and two children, were arrested in south-east St Elizabeth last Saturday, with the head of the communications unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, saying then “for more than one reason, we’re not sharing more information”.
Joseph is the second suspect to be arrested in Jamaica. He arrived here illegally by boat last December, along with his family members and is one of three key suspects who were being sought by law enforcement authorities in Haiti.
Last October, Jamaican authorities arrested former Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, who was detained in Panama after being denied permission to remain in Jamaica. There is no extradition treaty between Haiti and Jamaica
Palacio was recently extradited to the United States and has been being charged with conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and with providing material support resulting in death, knowing or intending that such material support would be used to prepare for or carry out the conspiracy to kill or kidnap.
Moise was killed at his private residence on July 7 last year and more than 40 people, including 18 former Colombian soldiers, have been arrested in connection with the assassination. (CMC)