President of the National Assembly in Haiti, Youri Latortue, has denied any involvement in the arrest and extradition of rebel leader turned politician, Guy Phillippe, after a voice recording surfaced in the country implicating him in the matter.
According to Latortue he was “surprised to learn that the elected Senator of Grand’Anse, Guy Philippe, would put him responsible for his extradition to the United States”.
But he said that he “unreservedly denies the presumptions made about any role he played in this”.
Phillippe, 48, was elected as a Senator for the Grand’Anse district in the November 20 legislative and presidential elections last year.
But he was arrested and extradited to the United States last month where he has since pleaded not guilty to charges of drug smuggling and money laundering. The charges carry a maximum life prison sentence.
Political observers in Haiti said Philippe was arrested while he did not yet have all the immunities conferred on him as a result of his election victory.
