The Government Commissioner, Jacques Lafontant, confirmed to the press that they are advancing in the election of another magistrate, while local reports indicated that it could be Jean Wilner Morin, president of the National Association of Judges, who has not yet been contacted officially.

Although Étienne argued personal reasons, his colleagues indicated that the conditions are not ideal for the investigation, with several of the main suspects detained outside of Haiti.

“First, to properly investigate the case, the judge must demand the extradition to Haiti of all suspects imprisoned abroad, particularly in the United States. It would be impossible for a Haitian judge to issue his order without listening to people like (Marco Antonio) Palacios, John Joseph Joël, Samir Handal, among others,” an investigating judge told Le Nouvelliste newspaper.

Étienne succeeded magistrate Garry Orélien last week, when the latter was denied the requested extension of the investigation time.

Moïse died as a result of 12 gun shots in his private residence in Port-au-Prince. Forty people are detained in the National Penitentiary in relation to the case, but none have been charged, seven months after the events.

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