TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Former President Juan Orlando Hernández needs to be extradited to america to face drug-trafficking and weapons prices, a Honduran decide dominated on Wednesday.
The Honduran authorities detained Mr. Hernández in February, capping a spectacular downfall for one in every of Central America’s strongest males.
He’s anticipated to attraction the extradition determination.
Through the courtroom listening to, the decide introduced a doc despatched by america Justice Division by the American embassy within the capital, Tegucigalpa, that laid out the fees towards Mr. Hernández. His legal professionals additionally introduced at the least 20 items of proof in his protection.
Mr. Hernández is accused of taking part in a “violent drug-trafficking conspiracy” that since 2004 has transported 500 tons of cocaine from Venezuela and Colombia to america through Honduras, based on the doc.
The authorities mentioned he had acquired tens of millions of {dollars} in bribes for facilitating the shipments and shielding traffickers from prosecution.
The previous president’s brother, Juan Antonio Hernández, is serving a life sentence in america for cocaine trafficking. One other convicted cocaine trafficker who implicated the previous president, Geovanny Fuentes, acquired the identical sentence.
The previous chief has denied having ties to drug traffickers. Addressing the courtroom throughout a listening to on Wednesday, he questioned the motives behind the extradition course of, based on Melvin Duarte, a courtroom spokesman.
Mr. Hernández has maintained that statements made towards him by extradited drug traffickers got here from individuals looking for revenge.
Mr. Hernández led the nation for eight years and stepped down in January, on the conclusion of his second time period. When he was detained final month, he was escorted by safety officers from his residence, carrying a bulletproof vest and shackles that sure him hand and foot.
Fireworks exploded round Tegucigalpa after he was led away from his residence, and about 100 protesters who had gathered round his residence celebrated his detention.
