Police have arrested the wife of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, Wednesday on corruption charges. Rosa Elena Bonilla was detained at her residence on the outskirts of the capital Tegucigalpa. As part of the operation, police also arrested her brother-in-law and seized documents pertaining to graft accusations. Local media in Honduras extensively covered the arrest. Bonilla stands accused of illegally obtaining some 12.2 million lempiras ($522,000) in the waning days of her husband’s administration, according to the national anti-corruption council, CNA.
Late last year, Bonilla denied the corruption allegations. Corruption scandals have led to a string of arrests in Central America in recent years, thanks to growing pressure from activists and backing from foreign powers. Bonilla’s detention took place a day after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley visited Honduras to talk about drug trafficking and corruption.
Earlier this month, the head of an anti-corruption commission backed by the Organisation of American States resigned citing a lack of support from authorities. Lobo was elected in late 2009 after a military coup ousted then-President Manuel Zelaya, and he served until 2014.
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