Former Colombian soldier pleads guilty to conspiring to kill Haitian president

A former Colombian soldier Friday became the fifth person to plead guilty to conspiring to assassinate Haitian President Jovel Moise, who was killed at his private residence on July7,2021.

Mario Antonio Palacios, 45, who was as detained in Jamaica in October 2021 and was flown to the US during a stopover in Panama while on a flight from Jamaica to Colombia, pleaded guilty to three charges, including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States.

In a brief appearance before federal Judge José E Martínez, the former Colombian soldier  answered “Yes, your honour,” in Spanish when he was asked if he was pleading guilty.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Palacios has agreed to cooperate with the investigation and to plead guilty. He could get up to life in prison when he’s sentenced March 1, but under the deal, prosecutors conceded that he played a minor role in the plot.

“He didn’t know what he was going to get into. He wasn’t part of the plan,”  his lawyer, Alfredo Izaguirre told reporters after the hearing, adding “he didn’t recruit anybody.

“He didn’t make any decision making authority in regards to the conspiracy. I think the government understands.”

According to prosecutors, the conspirators initially planned to kidnap the Haitian president but later decided to kill him. They say the plotters had hoped to win contracts under Moïse’s successor.  The authorities say about 20 former Colombian soldiers and several dual Haitian American citizens participated in the plot.

Earlier this month, former Haitian legislator, Joseph Joel John, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the assassination of Moise after he pleaded guilty in October to three charges, including conspiring to kill and kidnap a person outside the US, and providing material support and resources to carry out the plot to kill Moise.

Several former Colombian military officials have been arrested in connection with the killing and remains in a prison in Haiti. They have not yet been formally charged with any offence.

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