Honduras’ former first lady gets 58 years in prison for diverting funds

Rosa Elena Bonilla was found guilty of misappropriating US$500,000 in funds earmarked for social programmes

Prosecutors said the 52-year-old moved the money into her personal account six days before the end of her husband’s presidency in 2014

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Former first lady of Honduras, Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo, pictured on her way to court in February last year. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:55am, 6 Sep 2019Updated: 8:55am, 6 Sep 2019

Honduras’ former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla has been sentenced to 58 years in prison by an anti-corruption court for misappropriating funds earmarked for social programmes.

She is the wife of Porfirio Lobo, who held the presidency from 2010 to 2014.

Bonilla was accused of misappropriating about US$500,000 from an account where her office received funds for social programmes. She diverted the funds to her personal account six days before the end of her husband’s presidency, according to prosecutors.

The 52-year-old has been under arrest since February 2018. Her lawyers said they would appeal the sentence, which was announced on Wednesday by the country’s judicial branch.

Porfirio Lobo, Honduras' former president, waits outside court for his wife in August. Photo: Reuters

The investigation was backed by an anti-corruption mission, MACCIH, within the Organisation of American States (OAS), which seemed to welcome the sentence on Thursday by noting the independence of the judiciary.