Assassination Of President Moise, Haitian American Arrested By Former DEA Informant

The late President of Haiti Jovenel Moise. (Instagram/@jovenelmoise)

JAKARTA - One of the Haitian Americans arrested on suspicion of taking part in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise last week is an informant for the United States Anti-Narcotics Agency (DEA), a DEA official said Monday.

"One of the suspects in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise was a top-secret DEA source," the DEA official said in an email, adding that the suspect had contacted the DEA after the assassination and urged him to surrender.

"These people are not acting on behalf of the DEA." continued DEA. While a law enforcement source said the suspect was not an active informant at the time of the murder, a law enforcement source said.

Haitian authorities last week arrested two Haitian Americans, Joseph Vincent and James Solages, on charges that the two joined 26 Colombians in the deadly attack on Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

Meanwhile, a third Haitian American, Christian Emmanuel Sanon, was arrested on Sunday by Haitian authorities, who accused him of masterminding the attack.

US intelligence and law enforcement agencies are investigating allegations that Haitian Americans took part in the attack that killed President Moise and injured his wife.

The US Justice Department said Monday it had been asked by Haiti to assist in the investigation into the assassination of President Moise.

"Initial assessments have been carried out in Haiti by senior US officials," said spokesman Anthony Coley.

"The department will also investigate whether there were violations of US criminal law in connection with this matter," he added.

A source close to the investigation said Solages and Vincent told investigators they were translators for a Colombian commando unit that had an arrest warrant. However, when they arrived, they found President Moise already dead.

Solages described himself online as a 'certified diplomatic agent' and former 'chief commanding officer' for the Canadian Embassy in Haiti.

The statement was made on a charity website he runs, which was modified Thursday to remove it. Reuters reviewed versions of the archive that remained accessible.

The late President of Haiti Jovenel Moise. (Instagram/@jovenelmoise)

Meanwhile, the Miami Herald quoted an unnamed government official as saying that a decade ago Solages worked briefly for a company that provided security for the Canadian Embassy in Haiti.

"We are aware of allegations involving someone who was employed as a backup guard by a security firm hired by Global Affairs Canada in 2010," the newspaper quoted the official as saying.

Florida records show Solages had a security guard and firearms clearance. Few details have emerged about Vincent.

For information, President Jovenel Moise was killed in a brutal shooting at his residence in the early hours of Wednesday July 7th. Meanwhile, Martine Moise, wife of the late President Moise who was also shot, is now in serious treatment and may be sent to Miami, United States for further medical treatment.