Haitian Ex-Intelligence Officer Gave Order to Kill President, Colombia Says

The New York Times
By Julie Turkewitz and Anatoly Kurmanaev

Colombian officials on Friday identified a former Haitian intelligence official as the man who ordered two former Colombian soldiers to kill Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, this month.

The ex-intelligence official, Joseph Felix Badio, had first told two Colombian soldiers that they would be “arresting” the president, Gen. Jorge Luis Vargas, the head of Colombia’s national police, said at a news conference.

But a few days before the operation, he said, the plan changed. Mr. Badio told the former soldiers, Duberney Capador and Germán Alejandro Rivera Garcia, that “what they had to do was assassinate the president of Haiti,” General Vargas said.

Colombian officials did not describe the source of the information. Earlier this week Colombian intelligence and foreign ministry officials told The New York Times that they had not been able to interview the Colombian suspects.

Colombian officials on Friday identified a former Haitian intelligence official as the man who ordered two former Colombian soldiers to kill Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, this month.

The ex-intelligence official, Joseph Felix Badio, had first told two Colombian soldiers that they would be “arresting” the president, Gen. Jorge Luis Vargas, the head of Colombia’s national police, said at a news conference.

But a few days before the operation, he said, the plan changed. Mr. Badio told the former soldiers, Duberney Capador and Germán Alejandro Rivera Garcia, that “what they had to do was assassinate the president of Haiti,” General Vargas said.

Colombian officials did not describe the source of the information. Earlier this week Colombian intelligence and foreign ministry officials told The New York Times that they had not been able to interview the Colombian suspects.

Haitian police have issued a “wanted” notice for Mr. Badio’s arrest, accusing him of murder. The Haitian police also accuse him of organizing logistics, procuring vehicles and coordinating the operation of the assassination squad.

Julie Turkewitz is the Andes bureau chief, covering Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname and Guyana. Before moving to South America, she was a national correspondent covering the American West.