It is from Quebec, supported by a team of lawyers, that one of the children of the late President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse has just launched a legal action to obtain justice following the death of his assassinated father. by a commando team on July 7th.
“It is first and foremost the duty of a son who seeks answers about his father, but it is also my duty as a citizen, who has lost his democratically appointed president,” explained Joverlein Moïse, in an interview with Press Friday.
The 29-year-old entrepreneur, who lives in Quebec, filed a complaint last Wednesday with the magistrate of Port-au-Prince who is investigating the murder of his father. With his lawyers, he asked to be recognized as a civil party in this case, as allowed by the Haitian judicial system.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Me Philippe Larochelle, one of the lawyers representing the son of the assassinated president
Joverlein Moïse is represented by Montreal lawyer Philippe Larochelle, a long-time acquaintance, as well as by Mr.e Patrice Florvilus, one of the rare jurists to be both a member of the bar in Quebec and of the bar in Haiti. In Port-au-Prince, he also relies on the services of lawyer Dieunel Fleury Jean.
Other steps to come
“This is only the beginning of a set of legal steps that will soon be taken at national and international levels so that all light is shed on the murder of our client’s father,” said the three lawyers in a written statement. .
The authors, co-authors and accomplices of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse must answer for their acts. This, whatever [où ils] are found and whatever their rank or rank.
Lawyers representing Joverlein Moïse, in a written statement
Joverlein Moïse studied at Cégep de Saint-Laurent, in Montreal, and took courses in auto mechanics. He says he has been established in Quebec since 2012. During his father’s tenure as president, he often traveled between Canada and Haiti.
On the evening of July 7, he was with his wife and daughter in a house, 15 minutes from the presidential residence. A commando entered his father’s house and shot him dead. The president’s son said he was unable to get to the scene of the attack, while the security situation remained uncertain. He had to flee with the rest of his family to the United States, where his mother was treated for a gunshot wound. He then returned to Quebec.
PHOTO VALERIE BAERISWYL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
People gathered at the funeral of the late President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse in Cap-Haitien, on July 23
“It was a natural reflex for me, I feel at home. It is an egalitarian, fairly balanced society. And I like the changes of seasons. In Haiti, it is continuous summer, there are no changes, ”explains Joverlein Moïse.
It was from here that he followed developments in the investigation into the president’s death.
An international dimension
Several suspects have been arrested by the Haitian police, in particular Christian Emmanuel Sanon, pastor based in Florida who has already acted as vice-president of an international Quebec organization. Mr. Sanon is suspected of having participated in the hiring of Colombian mercenaries who allegedly stormed the presidential residence. Press has already revealed that he would have used without their authorization the names of several influential members of the Haitian diaspora in Montreal to promote his own candidacy for the presidency. One of his former collaborators in Montreal is also suspected by the Haitian police of being involved in the affair.
PHOTO VALERIE BAERISWYL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Joverlein Moïse, in Cap-Haitien, during a speech at the funeral of his father, Jovenel Moïse, late president of Haiti
Does Joverlein Moïse believe that some answers about his father’s death can be found in Quebec? He refuses to broach the subject.
“For specific legal issues, I will reserve my comments,” he said.
“But if we look at the people who have already been arrested, they are of several nationalities. It’s not bad international. We will see what the investigation will lead to, ”he says.
Not interested in a leap into politics
He is well aware that public opinion is divided in Haiti and that President Moïse was not unanimous. He was isolated from a large part of the political class. Numerous demonstrations had been organized to denounce what its opponents and certain NGOs qualified as authoritarian drift. Judges had gone on strike to protest his actions and Parliament was no longer functioning.
PHOTO THE PRESS
Joverlein Moïse, son of the late President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse, assassinated on July 7
My father, like any president, had his supporters, but there were also people who were against his policies. When you take certain actions against the status quo, you sometimes put yourself in danger.
Joverlein Moïse, son of the late President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse
The son shows no desire to follow in his father’s footsteps in politics. “I am not a politician. I am focused on justice, ”he said in reference to his complaint.