Authorities said on Sunday they have arrested a man suspected of playing a leading role in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, allegedly recruiting some of the mercenaries by telling them they would be his bodyguards.
National Police Chief Leon Charles told a news conference the arrested man, Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, flew to Haiti on a private jet in early June accompanied by hired security guards and wanted to take over as president.
He did not explain Sanon's motives beyond saying they were political but added that one of those in custody had contacted him upon being arrested.
Sanon, in turn, contacted two other "intellectual authors" of the assassination, Charles added.
"The mission of these attackers was initially to ensure the safety of Emmanuel Sanon, but later the mission was changed ... and they presented one of the attackers with an arrest warrant for the president of the republic," Charles said.
Public records online show a man with Sanon's name worked as a doctor in Florida.
