Honduras Corruption Widens As Vice President Of Congress Is Arrested
The vice president of the Honduran congress has been arrested.
BBC News is reporting that Lena Gutierrez was arrested on Tuesday over a corruption scandal. The report states that Ms. Gutierrez and members of her family have been accused of defrauding the country's national health care system. However, the head of the country's legislature denied any wrongdoing.
The Honduran supreme court wanted the arrest of Gutierrez, her father and two of her brothers. They all have been charged with fraud, false identification and crimes against the health care system. They are also alleged to have defrauded the country as much as $120 million dollars. They are all banned from leaving the country.
Fox News is reporting that Gutierrez and her family owns Astropharma, a company described as "a wholesaler of medicines made by pharmaceutical companies."
Hondurans are also calling for the resignation of President Juan Orlando Hernandez. The President has been under fired for a corruption scandal dealing with social security. AFP is reporting that thousands of protesters stormed the streets of Honduras, torches in hand, demanding the resignation of their president.
President Hernandez allegedly received approximately $90 million out of more than $300 million they say was skimmed from poverty-wracked Honduras's public health system for his 2013 election campaign. Hernandez has downplayed the allegation.
It is not known how much time Gutierrez will serve in jail for her actions. Gutierrez is a member of the governing National Party and said that she will prove that she and the rest of her family members are innocent.
The trial is expected to start later this year. It is not known if President Hernandez will resign despite the protests.
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