Honduras former first lady gets 14 years in prison on fraud charges

Former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo arrives at a court hearing after being convicted on graft charges, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras August 20, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Cabrera

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - A Honduran court sentenced the country's former first lady, Rosa Bonilla, to 14 years in prison on Wednesday on charges of fraud and misappropriation of funds destined for social programs, a judicial spokesperson said.

Bonilla, wife of former President Porfirio Lobo, spent some 12.2 million lempiras (then worth around $590,000) meant for low-income children on personal credit card payments, her childrens' school fees and real estate construction, according to the public ministry.