Haiti extradites 18 suspects in assassination of president to US

Key Points:

• Eighteen individuals, including 17 Colombian ex-soldiers and a former Haitian government official, Joseph Badio, have been extradited from Haiti to Florida to face trial for their alleged roles in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.
• Moise was killed at his home in Port-au-Prince in July 2021, with US prosecutors alleging that the assassination was planned and financed from Florida, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
• Due to the weakened justice system in Haiti, US authorities have taken responsibility for prosecuting the detainees in Florida courts, where four conspirators have already been convicted.
• The charges against the extradited individuals include conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moise and providing material support for the assassination, with potential sentences of life imprisonment.
• The Colombian ex-soldiers claim they believed they were participating in a coup and were unaware of plans to assassinate Moise.