A man who was wanted by Haiti for his alleged role in the murder of President Jovenel Moise has been released from a Turkish repatriation facility and sent back to the United States, according to one of his lawyers.

53-year-old former businessman Moise, who was elected in 2017, was assassinated in July 2021 at his home. His wife was hurt during the assault.

Businessman Samir Handal, a Miami-based Haitian and U.S. real estate developer, was detained on an Interpol red notice as he transited through Turkey on his way from the United States to Jordan last November.

His lawyers said the red notice was later suspended at their request pending a final review and a Turkish court rejected Haiti’s extradition request for Handal on July 4, ruling he should be released.

Lawyer Mahmut Barlas told Reuters that Handal was released on Aug. 3 and arrived in the United States the following day.

Handal has said he only rented a house to Emmanuel Sanon, a suspected mastermind of the assassination, and did not know of any plans to kill Moise.

Handal’s lawyers had said he should not be extradited because he would be subject to hard labour in Haiti. They also emphasised the political uncertainty in the country.