TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – Outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who has been accused in U.S. court docket hearings of aiding drug traffickers, on Thursday was sworn in as a member of the Central American parliament, giving him immunity from prosecution within the area.
Hernandez formally joined the Guatemala-based regional physique, referred to as Parlacen, only a few hours after Xiomara Castro’s inauguration as Honduran president, amid media hypothesis that he can be indicted on drug trafficking fees by the United States upon leaving workplace.
His time period with Parlacen is because of final 4 years, in step with the group’s mandate to include former presidents and vice presidents together with elected members, Parlacen mentioned in an announcement.
Parlacen affords members immunity from prosecution in Central America, although that immunity will be eliminated or suspended if requested by a member’s residence nation.
“When former President Juan Orlando Hernandez is sworn in as a member of the Central American parliament, he enjoys the immunity granted by being half of that physique,” mentioned lawyer and former Parlacen member Arturo Echenique.
Hernandez, who ruled Honduras for eight years and was a U.S. ally in anti-narcotics operations, has repeatedly denied hyperlinks to drug cartels and has not been formally charged in U.S. courts.
U.S. Representative Norma Torres on Thursday referred to as for Hernandez to be instantly indicted and for U.S. officers to request his extradition.
“President Hernandez has been a central determine in undermining the rule of legislation in his personal nation and in defending and helping drug traffickers,” Torres mentioned in an announcement.
“He has been repeatedly recognized as a co-conspirator in different drug trafficking instances.”
Hernandez, from the conservative National Party, noticed his reputation plummet by the point he left workplace after serving a most two consecutive phrases. Castro, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist from the leftist Libre celebration, gained help of Hondurans drained of corruption and the nation’s focus of energy.
If the United States have been to cost the Honduran ex-president and search his extradition, the Honduran authorities might cross the case over to Parlacen to determine, Echenique mentioned.
In a case final yr in opposition to now-convicted Honduran drug trafficker Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, prosecutors mentioned that Hernandez used Honduran legislation enforcement and army officers to guard drug traffickers.
Hernandez’s brother final yr was sentenced by a U.S. decide to life in jail plus 30 years for drug trafficking.
(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon & Simon Cameron-Moore)
