UPDATE: Former Haitian senator to be extradited to the US

Former Haitian senator Joseph Joel John, who authorities in Haiti list as one of five fugitives involved in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse is to be extradited to the United States, after he signed the committal warrant on Thursday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.  

 

His only concern, however, which was expressed through an interpreter, was an interest to know what the outcome of the application for refugee status to the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) for his wife, Edume and their sons, ages 18 and nine.  

 

“His concerns are, the time he will be leaving without knowing the situation of the family,” the interpreter said. On previous court appearances, John expressed that he has not been able to sleep since his arrest in January.  

 

“I would like to see the processes finished for my family. If you can give me two more weeks for our stay, I don't know if in two weeks exactly the processes will be finished. I don't sleep, my wife, she doesn't sleep. My wife is sick," the senator said at the time.  

 

Attorney for the Haitians, Donahue Martin confirmed that an application for refugee status was made on February 3 due to fear of persecution and political and social instability in Haiti, and indicated that the reason for leaving Haiti arose from an incident where the Edume was attacked at gunpoint.  

 

A representative from the PICA was present in court on Thursday, who shared that the Eligibility Committee met on March 23 and the findings were sent to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of National Security. The representative related that the permanent secretary was not on the island but should return in short order, when at that time the decision of the refugee status for the applicants is to be made.  

 

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague, in response to Joseph’s issue, said while she could appreciate the concern of “a man being separated from his wife and children”; the extradition request was for only made for him.  

 

“So, he can start preparing himself mentally that they will be separated,” the judge said.  

 

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Taylor Q.C., explained that the extradition exercise would not happen the next day, as Joseph thought, but involves a series of intricate processes. 

 

“After he signs, Your Honour will sign the committal of where he would be kept. Then we have to ensure that he has no other local matters in the jurisdiction and if he does, our office may have to enter certain process in relation to those local matters within the jurisdiction. Then after that we send the surrender warrant to the Minister of Justice to be signed and once that is signed Your Honour, then all the processes are put in place for him to be sent off to the United States,” Taylor explained.  

 

The court heard that the provisional warrant of arrest was executed on the accused on March 22 and through the extradition treaty between Jamaica and the United States, the US has 60 days to provide evidence against the former senator, who is accused of being an accessory to a crime.  

 

Joseph, along with his wife Edume, and their sons are being charged with illegal entry following their arrest in St Elizabeth this year. 

 

Taylor asked for an adjournment in that matter, in relation to the former senator, to facilitate consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewelyn Q.C., on how the outcome of the local charge against him.  

 

The Haitians were remanded in custody until April 5. 

 

Joseph will become the third suspect to be extradited to the United States, following the arrest of Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar and Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios. 

 

Jaar was arrested in the Dominican Republic in January this year and Palacios was arrested in Jamaica in October 2021.  

 

-Tiffany Taylor (Star Writer)

 

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