Honduras: arrest of a presidential candidate

Retired Honduran army captain Santos Rodriguez, presidential candidate and prosecution witness in the United States against Tony Hernandez, brother of the current president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, was arrested on Thursday 4 November by the Honduran authorities who accuse him of money laundering, drug trafficking and murders.

The arrest of Santos Rodriguez, who is not among the favorites in the election, comes just a few weeks before the November 28 poll.

Read alsoFor migrants from Honduras, the dream stops in Guatemala

The outgoing president and several of Honduran presidential candidates face charges of corruption and involvement in drug trafficking.

According to the prosecution, Santos Rodriguez is accused in particular of

.

In addition, a "protected" witness assures that he diverted for his own profit some of the drugs and money seized during operations, and that he handed over the seized weapons to a criminal organization called ZIPE.

of the DEA, the US anti-drug agency, the prosecution said in a statement.

Read alsoHonduras strengthens the ban on abortion

The former officer testified to the involvement in drug trafficking of Tony Hernandez, former deputy and brother of the Honduran president, sentenced in the United States to life imprisonment. He claimed in recent days to be prosecuted in connection with his accusations. However, as early as October 2016, the American embassy in Tegucigalpa indicated that an investigation had been opened against Mr. Santos Rodriguez

.

President Hernandez has always rejected the charges against him and his brother.

He assures us that these are the product of testimonies from drug traffickers who want revenge on him for allowing their extradition to the United States.

The favorite candidates for the presidential election are the current mayor of Tegucigalpa, Nasry Asfura (National Party, ruling right) and Xiomara Castro, of the Free Party (left).