Hours out of office, Honduras ex-president gains immunity through regional post

FILE PHOTO: Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez presents his national statement as a part of the World Leaders' Summit at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain November 1, 2021. Andy Buchanan/Pool via REUTERS

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who has been accused in U.S. court hearings of aiding drug traffickers, on Thursday was sworn in as a member of the Central American parliament, giving him immunity from prosecution in the region.

Hernandez formally joined the Guatemala-based regional body, called Parlacen, just a few hours after Xiomara Castro's inauguration as Honduran president, amid media speculation that he would be indicted on drug trafficking charges by the United States upon leaving office.