By Kate Chappell

KINGSTON (Reuters] – On Jan. 3, a former Colombian soldier implicated in assassinating Haitian President Jovenel Moise last year will be sent from Jamaica to his homeland, according to Jamaica’s attorney general.

Authorities in Haiti accuse Mario Antonio Palacios (43), of being part of the mercenary team that killed Moise during an attack on Moise’s private residence. His wife also suffered injuries.

Palacios, who was illegally entered the Dominican Republic from Dominican Republic in October last year, was detained and tried for his crimes.

Jamaica’s government has issued a deportation notice for anyone illegally entering the country. According to a police spokesperson, the Jamaican government has not signed an extradition treaty. Palacios is still wanted by Haiti.

Marlene Malahoo Fore stated in a statement that she did not believe that he had been linked to the assassination. “Instead, it indicated that he was a suspect in attempted armed robbery without providing any details.”

“Our efforts to obtain more and better information from the Haitian government failed.”

Palacios lawyers asked Kingston’s Horizon Adult Remand Centre to release Palacios immediately, saying that his illegal detention was unlawful.

Both Palacio’s lawyers and the Haitian government did not immediately respond to our requests for comment.