Haiti gives blessing as US extradition sealed
Published:Friday | March 25, 2022 | 12:07 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Joseph Joel John, the former Haitian senator linked to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, has one wish before he is whisked off to America on an extradition request: for his family to remain in Jamaica.
An application for refugee status for John’s wife, Edume, 38, and their sons – Schopenhauer, 17, and a nine-year-old boy – is currently awaiting the final decision of the permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security, who is currently off the island.
The Haitian government has signalled that it is not opposed to Jamaica’s pending extradition of the accused assassination plotter to the United States.
“There is no objection if Mr Joel goes to the USA,” a spokesman for Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry told The Gleaner on Thursday.
“Joel will need to face justice and respond to the charges against him,” said the spokesman, stressing that Henry is determined to seek justice for the Moise family.
The court was previously told that the family fled to Jamaica out of fear for their safety after the wife was attacked by a gunman.
They were apprehended on January 14 during a police operation in Warminster district in St Elizabeth and charged with illegal entry.
In the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court Thursday, the Haitian fugitive, after indicating that he was not challenging the request, immediately sought to air his concerns but was quickly told by Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole Montague that he needs to speak through his lawyer, Donahue Martin.
After signing the committal warrant, 59-year-old Mr John, through his interpreter, related that he was concerned about how soon he would be leaving without knowing the fate of his family.
But the judge, while empathising, told the fugitive that since the extradition request is solely for him, he should start preparing himself mentally for separation.
He was, however, assured by Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Taylor, who had brought the request, that the extradition will not be immediate, as it required certain intermediate procedures, including the signature of the national security minister.
While Mr John stood in the dock, Edume, who was observed earlier passing a letter to her husband via an officer, appeared edgy and frustrated. Their youngest son, who was on the other side of the room, sat on the prisoner’s bench with his face on the lap of an officer throughout the proceedings.
His demeanour did not miss the judge, who remarked, “It’s the first I’ve ever seen him like this.”
Judge Cole Montague, however, commended the two officers who sat with him for the care they showed towards him.
The nine-year-old is chaperoned by an officer or two.
The older son was later allowed to join his parent in the dock on what the judge called humanitarian concern.
Martin, after Mr John had finished signing the document, he asked the judge for permission for the family to meet but was told that that was a matter for the police within the context of heightened security concerns.
Meanwhile, Taylor, in addressing the court, revealed that a provisional warrant was executed on the fugitive on Tuesday.
He, however, informed the court that in relation to John’s charge of illegal entry, he needs time to consult with the director of public prosecutions on how to proceed. As a result, a mention date was scheduled for April 5.
A representative from the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency also informed the court that the eligibility committee had sent its recommendation to the permanent secretary for her to make a decision on the asylum request for the family.
Mr John is listed among five fugitives in connection with the president’s assassination.
He is accused of renting four vehicles that were used by the Colombian assassins on the night of the deadly attack.
Moϊse was killed at his private residence overlooking the capital on July 7, 2021.
His wife, Martine Moϊse, was also shot but survived.
Another key suspect in the assassination plot, ex-Colombian military officer Mario Antonio Palacios, was deported from Jamaica on January 3 in keeping with an order by the Supreme Court after his immigration breach conviction.
Palacios was intercepted in Panama by US law enforcement agents and taken to Florida, where he was charged with various crimes related to Moïse’s assassination.