The 17 Colombians imprisoned in Haiti were transferred to a police station after armed gangs attacked the prison where they were being held this Saturday night.
(You can read: The Government of Haiti declares a state of emergency and a curfew in part of the country)
This was made known to this newspaper by lawyer Sondra Macollins Garvin, representative of the families of the compatriots who have been detained in that Caribbean country since 2021.accused in the case for the assassination of then-president Jovenel Moise.
(Also: They confirm the transfer of the 17 Colombians detained in Haiti to another prison)
According to Macollins, all the former soldiers are alive and are awaiting a decision that defines whether they will be free or transferred to another prison.
The fate of the Colombians aroused concern among families in Colombia when it was learned that the assault on the penitentiary center caused the escape of some 3,600 prisoners.
However, The Colombians decided to stay inside the prison.
(Keep reading: Foreign Ministry asks for protection for Colombians detained in a prison attacked in Haiti)
According to Macollins, the former soldiers decided to stay inside the penitentiary center because they had been alerted that they would be murdered by Haitian gangs.
In his talk, The human rights expert jurist also told what the case of these compatriots is going on in the Haitian courts. and about why Moise's widow was now involved by a judge in the assassination of her husband.
(In context: Gangs attack the largest prison in Haiti and leave the country in a climate of uncertainty)
Almost 48 hours after the assault on the Port-au-Prince prison. What do we know at this time about the Colombians who are imprisoned in Haiti and what situation are they in?
We know that our Colombians were transferred by the Police thanks to the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry that forced the Haitian authorities to take action to protect them. They are currently being guarded at a Port-au-Prince police station. They will be there until further notice. We are waiting for the results of their situation and to know if they will be released or sent back to prison.
Both you and the families fear for the lives of these Colombians. Who would be interested in murdering them?
In reality, all those who are involved in the assassination of Moise. Apparently, the band alias Barbecue was the president's protector. They have been trying to take justice into their own hands. They entered the prison, broke in violently, murdered some of the guards and took away four Haitians who are being prosecuted in this case. They said they murdered Moise's former security chief, who was also detained. The Colombians were in an area further inside the prison, which prevented them from entering there. The order was that the director of the prison should let them out and they would wait outside to kill them. Some guards notified the Colombians and that is why they stayed hidden until the transfer took place.
(You can read: The cry of the mother of a Colombian soldier held in prison who was attacked in Haiti)
What is their judicial process going on?
The process has been very delayed. Until last year, when the now suspended Foreign Minister Leyva went to Haiti last October, he was inquiring about the detained Colombians. Until that moment the process moved forward, they were given a public defender, they were taken to the court facilities so that they could be heard by the judge. And progress was made in the case. They have said that they were taken there to Haiti by the police to make an arrest for extradition purposes. The judge endorses that theory and issued the arrest warrant for the former director of the National Police, Leon Charles, who served until a few days ago as Haiti's ambassador to the OAS. Subsequently, they order the capture of the widow, who was the witness against the Colombians. The Colombians allege that the widow was lying, as the court determined, and against former Prime Minister Claude Joseph. Afterwards, the judge determines that the Colombians are accomplices. I believe there has been impartiality in the case and it has been handled as a political case and not a judicial one.
(Also: Will the Colombians accused of assassination in Haiti after a prison assault be free?)
Now versions have begun to circulate about an alleged plot in which Moise's widow would be involved in the case. What does she have to do with it?
Moise's widow was the main witness against the Colombians because she says she was there, saw them enter and was saved. The authorities determine that she was lying. Unfortunately, we don't know her intention. What I do know is that she has an arrest warrant to be linked to the case, as does the former director of the Police and the former prime minister, Claude Joseph. Now it turns out that those who were accusing them end up being her accomplices.
CARLOS JOSÉ REYES GARCÍA
INTERNATIONAL DEPUTY EDITOR
TIME
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