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Wife of Ex-president of Honduras Convicted in Corruption Case

Reuters

   TEGUCIGALPA - A Honduran court convicted the wife of former President
   Porfirio Lobo on graft charges, including siphoning funds from programs
   designed to help poor children, a judicial official said on Tuesday.

   Rosa Elena Bonilla was found guilty of diverting some 18.3 million
   Honduran lempiras ($779,000) in public funds plus international
   donations that were originally earmarked for social programs. The funds
   were then used to pay for personal medical bills, building projects,
   her children's private school tuition and jewelry.

   The conviction carries a sentence of between 58 years and 87 years,
   which will be set next week, according to court spokesman Carlos Silva.

   The case was pushed by local prosecutors as well as the Organization of
   American States' Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and
   Impunity in Honduras, known locally as MACCIH.

   Bonilla's husband, Porfirio Lobo, was elected president of the Central
   American nation in late 2009 after a military coup ousted
   then-President Manuel Zelaya, and he served until 2014.

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