Former Haitian senator weeps in court - Wife and sons to seek refugee status

John Joel Joseph, the former Haitian opposition senator fingered as a suspect in the assassination of president Jovenel Moise, wept openly in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday, saying that he has not been able to sleep since his arrest last month.

"I would like to see the processes finished for my family. If you can give me more two 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," Joseph said. Joseph, along with his wife Edume, and their sons, ages 18 and nine, are being charged with illegal entry. When the matter was mentioned before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague, attorney for the Haitians, Donahue Martin, asked for an adjournment to facilitate an application to the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency. Martin confirmed with THE STAR that an application is being tendered to seek refugee status in Jamaica for Edume and the boys due to fear of persecution and political and social instability in Haiti.

The court heard further that while the family is in custody, Edume is concerned that her 18-year-old has not been attending school. The judge then made an order for the child to be transferred to a juvenile facility in the Corporate Area, where he will have access to educational sessions. Joseph, who is not seeking refugee status, asked that he be present on the next court date to support his family.

"I would keep them [the matters] all together, so that every occasion that the matter is before me, you will all be together," Cole-Montague said. The former senator replied "May God bless you." The Josephs are remanded in custody until March 3, when the matter is to be mentioned.

The Haitians were arrested on January 14 by police personnel from the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch and the St Elizabeth Police Division, who conducted an operation in Warminster district. Three Jamaicans were also arrested. The allegations are that during the arrests, Joseph approached the investigating officer and told him that he was willing to pay him US$2 million to set his family free. The offer was refused and the family was removed from the property on which they were found. Shortly after, one of the Jamaicans offered the investigating officer $1 million to let him and the other Jamaicans free. This offer was also refused and the accused were taken to the Junction Police Station where they were charged.

- T.T.