Head of security at Haiti’s presidential residence arrested

15 Jul Head of security at Haiti’s presidential residence arrested

The head of security at Haiti’s presidential residence has been placed in police custody, according to a close associate, as authorities continue to investigate the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

Dimitri Herard, who is the head of the General Security Unit of the National Palace, had been questioned at the Inspector General’s office on Wednesday, then transferred to a police station in Port-au-Prince, according to associate Carl Martin, who said he is coordinating Herard’s legal defense team.

When Herard asked the police why he was being held for the night, he was told the decision “came from above,” said Martin, who spoke with Herard on Wednesday evening. He added that police have taken away Herard’s guns and cell phone, and that they had spoken through another police officer’s phone.

Earlier on Wednesday, Herard did not appear for a court inquiry ordered by the Port-au-Prince public prosecutor, citing a mandatory appearance at the Inspector General’s office.

“I have the honor to inform you, following the invitation sent to me by the public prosecutor’s office of Port au-Prince. I am currently under a precautionary measure ordered by the General Inspectorate of the Haitian Police. As a result, I am not available to comply with the request of the public prosecutor,” he said in a letter to the public prosecutor that CNN has seen.

“While I am willing to respond once this protective measure expires, I respectfully request a stay of execution from your office for this purpose as may be required,” he added.

Martin told CNN that Moise had a large security detail, and that Herard’s unit contained a number of officers, but “he’s the only person that’s being held in that fashion.” The chain of command “does not stop at Dimitri,” he added.

Herard hopes for “a fair chance at a fair investigation” now that international agencies including Interpol and the FBI are involved, Martin said, adding, “His job is political. He has a lot of political opponents.”

Martin said the police had initially placed Herard in ‘isolation” for a very short period, for safety reasons. (CNN)