NEW YORK (Reuters) – A lawyer for Juan Orlando Hernandez, the previous Honduran president who’s dealing with U.S. medication and weapons prices, on Tuesday accused the Central American nation’s present authorities of organising obstacles to his protection.
In a listening to on Hernandez’s case in Manhattan federal courtroom, protection lawyer Raymond Colon mentioned people in Honduras he hoped to talk with had been “being intimidated,” with out offering proof.
Colon mentioned he had recognized a Honduran navy officer who was keen to testify at trial on a “crucial” difficulty that might solid doubt on the prosecution’s model of occasions.
However he mentioned that particular person, whom he didn’t establish, later informed a member of the family he wanted approval from a choose in Honduras earlier than persevering with to talk with Colon.
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“That actually creates an issue for us by way of placing on an efficient protection,” Colon mentioned.
Gerardo Torres, Honduras’ deputy international minister, denied Colon’s claims.
“I do not know the place that accusation towards the federal government of Honduras comes from,” Torres informed Reuters. “The Honduran state and authorities are excited about a swift conclusion of the trial.”
Elinor Tarlow, a prosecutor, mentioned she had not been conscious of the issue earlier than Tuesday.
U.S. District Decide Kevin Castel, who oversees the case, instructed either side to confer earlier than he took any motion.
Hernandez, a former U.S. ally who led Honduras from 2014 till January 2022, was extradited to america final April.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan say he obtained thousands and thousands of {dollars} from drug traffickers in change for safeguarding them from arrest.
Hernandez has pleaded not responsible and lengthy portrayed himself as a fierce opponent of drug cartels, arguing traffickers have implicated him in courtroom as a part of an effort to minimize their very own sentences.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro, a leftist who changed Hernandez final yr after beating a candidate from his right-leaning Nationwide Get together, has pledged to sort out corruption.
Castel on Tuesday additionally rescheduled Hernandez’s trial for Sept. 18, 2023. It had been set for April 24.
(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Further reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; Enhancing by Josie Kao)
Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.
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