The latest suspect detained amid the search for the masterminds and assassins in the killing of President Jovenel Moise is a Haitian in his 60s living in Florida who identifies himself as a doctor and has accused the leaders of his homeland of corruption.
Police in Haiti identified the man Sunday night as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, whom Moise’s alleged killers were protecting as the supposed president of Haiti.
The head of Haiti’s police, Leon Charles, accused Sanon of working with those who plotted and participated in Wednesday’s assassination of Moise, which stunned the nation of more than 11 million people. He gave no information on the purported masterminds.
Charles said that among the items found by officers at Sanon’s house in Haiti were a hat emblazoned with the logo of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 20 boxes of bullets, gun parts, four automobile license plates from the Dominican Republic, two cars and correspondence with unidentified people.
Advertisement
“We continue to make strides,” Charles said of police efforts to solve the brazen attack at Moise’s private home, which killed him and seriously wounded his wife, Martine Moise, who is hospitalized in Miami.
Charles said Sanon was in contact with a firm that provides security for politicians and recruited the suspects in the killing. He said Sanon flew into Haiti on a private jet accompanied by several of the alleged gunmen.
World & Nation
Who killed Haiti’s president? Plot thickens as Moise’s guards come under scrutiny
World & Nation
Who killed Haiti’s president? Plot thickens as Moise’s guards come under scrutiny
Three days after the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise, it’s still unclear who ordered it and who did it. His security team is scrutinized.
The gunmen’s initial mission was to protect Sanon, but they later received a new order to arrest the president, Charles said.
“The operation started from there,” he said, adding that an additional 22 suspects joined the group and that contact was made with Haitian citizens.
Among those suspected in Moise’s slaying are 26 Colombians. Eighteen have been arrested, along with three Haitians. Charles said five suspects are still at large and at least three have been killed.
“They are dangerous individuals,” Charles said. “I’m talking commando, specialized commando.”
World & Nation
2 Haitian Americans among 6 held in assassination of Haiti’s president, officials say
World & Nation
2 Haitian Americans among 6 held in assassination of Haiti’s president, officials say
Two Haitian Americans, identified as James Solages and Joseph Vincent, were among six people arrested after gunmen killed President Jovenel Moise.
More Coverage
After the assassination of Haiti’s president, it’s unclear who will lead the country
Advertisement
Charles said that after Moise was killed, one of the suspects phoned Sanon, who then got in touch with two people believed to be the authors of the plot. He did not identify the ringleaders or say if police knew who they were.
The chief said Haitian authorities obtained the information from interrogations and other elements of the investigation. He added that police were working with Colombian officials to elucidate details of the alleged plot, including when the suspects left Colombia and who paid for their tickets.
Sanon has lived in Florida, in Broward County and in Hillsborough County on the Gulf Coast. Records show he has also lived in Kansas City, Mo. He filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and identifies himself as a doctor in a video on YouTube titled “Leadership for Haiti.”
In the video, he denounces the leaders of Haiti as corrupt, accusing them of stripping the country of its resources, saying that “they don’t care about the country, they don’t care about the people.”
Advertisement
Newsletter
News Alerts
Get breaking news, investigations, analysis and more signature journalism from the Los Angeles Times in your inbox.
Enter email address
Sign Me Up
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
He claims that Haiti has uranium, oil and other resources that have been taken by government officials.
“This is a country with resources,” he said. “Nine million people can’t be in poverty when we have so much resources in the country. It’s impossible. ... The world has to stop doing what they are doing right now. We can’t take it anymore. We need new leadership that will change the way of life.”
Sanon has posted little on Twitter but has expressed an interest in Haitian politics. In September 2010, he tweeted, “Just completed a successful conference in Port-Au-Prince. Many people from the opposition attended.” A month later, he wrote: “Back to Haiti for an important meeting regarding the election. Pray for me for protection and wisdom.”
Advertisement
Sanon’s arrest comes as a growing number of politicians challenge interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who is currently in charge of Haiti with help from police and the military.
World & Nation
Haiti’s years of political struggle coincided with other calamities
World & Nation
Haiti’s years of political struggle coincided with other calamities
The assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Mo？se is the Caribbean nation’s latest tumultuous chapter.
Joseph said Moise’s wife underwent surgery Saturday but is doing well, adding that the investigation into the killing remains a priority for the government.
“I congratulate the population for staying calm,” he said Sunday night. “The plan was probably to kill the president and for the population to take to the streets and start looting.”
Advertisement
While the streets were calm Sunday, government officials worry about what lies ahead and have requested U.S. and United Nations military assistance.
“We still believe there is a path for chaos to happen,” Haiti Elections Minister Mathias Pierre told the Associated Press.
Opinion
Op-Ed: Will the U.S. finally correct its course in Haiti?
Opinion
Op-Ed: Will the U.S. finally correct its course in Haiti?
Until now, the U.S., along with international partners, has backed Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s claim to his extra year of rule.
Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby said on Fox News Sunday that the Pentagon is analyzing the request to send troops to Haiti and that no decisions have been made. He said a team largely composed of agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI was heading to Haiti to help with the investigation.
Advertisement
‘’I think that’s really where are our energies are best applied right now, in helping them get their arms around investigating this incident and figuring out who’s culpable, who’s responsible and how best to hold them accountable going forward,’’ Kirby said.
The U.N. has been involved in Haiti off and on since 1990, but the last U.N. military peacekeepers left the country in 2017.