According to media reports, Rodolphe Jaar, a Haitian businessman and a convicted drug trafficker, was detained in the Dominican Republic on suspicion of his role in the murder of the Haitian President. 

Jaar was apprehended in Santo Domingo on Friday, six months after a hit squad invaded Jovenel Moise's home in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood, murdering the President and injuring his wife, according to The Miami Herald.

Haitian and Dominican officials confirmed his detention. According to sources, Jaar spent months in hiding after sneaking into the Dominican Republic from Haiti.

According to a Haiti National Police report obtained by The Herald, the suspect was a key figure in the assassination plot. The report mentions that Jaar hosted Colombian commandos, cars, and weapons at his Port-au-Prince home just days before the raid on Moise's home.

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New arrests, unanswered questions; who killed the Haitian President?

Haiti interim PM Claude Joseph announced the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise in his private residence on the 7th of July, 2021. 

Previously, Haitian police announced that the armed commando unit responsible for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse comprised 26 Columbians and two Haitian Americans.

Haiti PM survives assassination attempt

Last week, gunmen carried out an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry during an event celebrating the Caribbean country’s 218th independence anniversary.

The statement said that “bandits and terrorists” had tried to shoot the PM at a church in the northern city of Gonaïves where the said ceremony was taking place.

The police, who said the attack was the work of “armed groups”, were unable to immediately confirm casualties. Later, Haitian media reported 1 killing and two injuries.

The reported assassination attempt increased concerns over the safety of officials in Haiti since the assassination of Haiti President Joevenl Moïse.