Former first lady of Honduras sentenced to 58 years in jail

The former first lady of Honduras Rosa Elena Bonilla, wife of ex-president Porfirio Lobo, was sentenced to 58 years in jail on charges of fraud and undue appropriation of funds, a spokesman for the nation’s highest court said.

Bonilla, 52, has been in custody since February 2018.

Bonilla was accused of misusing the equivalent of $779,000 in funds between 2010 and 2014 that came from international donations and public funds, and which were meant to be used for social programs, according to an investigation carried out by attorney general’s office and a unit of the Organization of American States.

Bonilla used the money to pay for medical bills, jewellery, tuition for her children and construction work, according to the attorney general’s office.

Her defence attorney said Bonilla was innocent and an appeal would be filed with the Central American nation’s Supreme Court. That would be Bonilla’s last chance to avoid serving out the sentence.

The court also sentenced Bonilla’s close associate, Saul Escobar, to a 48-year jail sentence for embezzlement of public funds and fraud.

Via Reuters/AP