Honduras: former first lady retried for corruption
The former first lady of Honduras, Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo arrived yesterday at the Sentencing Court of the Supreme Court to face the repetition of the trial against her for eight crimes of fraud and one of misappropriation.
Bonilla is the wife of former President Porfirio Lobo (2010-2014), and in the first instance, the Sentencing Court sentenced her to 58 years in prison in September 2019, after finding her guilty.
However, in March 2020, the Court accepted two appeals for relief filed by her defense and ordered the repetition of her trial, so in July of that year she was released.
This new trial was scheduled for July 20, 2021, but was suspended because part of the team of prosecutors in the case was infected with Covid-19.
It should also be recalled that Porfirio Lobo is banned from entering the United States for allegedly accepting bribes from drug traffickers in exchange for political favors.
This new trial will be extended until February 28, during which time documentary, testimonial, and expert evidence will be analyzed. In this regard, Rosa Bonilla said that she wants to demonstrate that she did not steal and asked to be given that opportunity. She also said that the previous trial was total illegality.
The new trial also involves Saúl Fernando Escobar, who was Bonilla's private secretary and is accused of three fraud crimes. In the previous trial, he received a 48-year prison sentence for several fraud crimes.
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Bonilla and Escobar are linked to the case known as "Caja chica de la dama", which was initially disclosed by the Organization of American States' Support Mission Against Corruption and Impunity. The former first lady allegedly took possession of some US $480,000, which she took from an account in the name of the Office of the First Lady and the Presidential House and deposited in her account four days before the end of her husband's administration.
The Public Prosecutor's Office explained that both Bonilla and Escobar, appropriated some US $650,000 that they took out through more than 70 checks issued to nine front companies between 2011 and 2015.
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