Haitian police announced on Sunday that they had arrested a Haitian citizen “with political motives” in recruiting the gunmen who assassinated President Jovenel Mois last week.
“This is a man who entered Haiti on a private plane with political motives,” said Haitian National Police chief Leon Charles.
According to details given at a press conference, 63-year-old Christian Emmanuel Sanon, who is of Haitian nationality, arrived in the island nation in June along with several Colombians.
Several Haitian ministers were also at the conference.
“The mission then changed,” Charles said, explaining that the intention was originally to arrest Moises, and that the operation was launched from within the country.
“Twenty-two other persons entered Haiti,” Charles said.
Since Wednesday, 18 Colombians have been arrested. Upon questioning him, Haitian police learned that Sanon had recruited 26 team members through CTU, a Florida-based Venezuelan security company.
“When we, the police, blocked the progress of these bandits after committing a crime, the first of the attackers was Christian Emmanuel Sanon.
“They contacted two others whom we believe to be the masterminds of the assassination of President Jovanel Mois,” Charles said without disclosing the identities of the two other suspects.
Members of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the State Department, the Justice Department, the National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security arrived in Haiti on Sunday and called on the Director General of Police.
According to Haitian officials, a 28-member hit squad broke into Moise’s family home and opened fire on him and his wife, Martine.
The President was killed and his wife was seriously injured. He was taken to a hospital in Miami for treatment.
The murder of Moises has thrown already troubled Haiti – America’s poorest country – into chaos.
Amid deep uncertainty over its political future, the international community has called on the Caribbean country to move forward with presidential and legislative elections due later this year.
The US delegation met with key actors of the government of Haiti on Sunday.
Haitian Senate President Joseph Lambert tweeted Sunday evening: “I met with the US delegation and together we welcome the Senate resolution that elected me as interim President of the Republic.”
The delegation also met Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who he says is still in charge.
US officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
No police officers were injured during the operation to arrest the alleged Colombian mercenaries, three of whom were killed in the process.
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