Former Minister Arturo Bendaña received his charge of alleged fraud in the purchase of medicines.
A former Honduran Minister of Health appears in court on Tuesday after being arrested for alleged fraud in drug and equipment purchases for nearly $9 million during his administration in 2010-2012, the prosecution reported.
Former Minister Arturo Bendaña was arrested on Monday night in the northern city of San Pedro Sula,Accused of “fraud” and other crimes, the prosecution said in a statement.
Bendaña andEight other former officials and company managers incurred “irregular procurement of medicines, medical supplies, surgical and laboratory equipment that resulted in State fraud”for $225 billion lempiras (almost $9 million), according to the prosecution.
According to the investigations, the former minister and the other defendants “used fraudulent contracts … to commit crimes against the health of the Honduran people.”
At the end of the hearing, the court must decide whether to issue a formal indictment of the former minister or release him, according to the Honduran judicial procedure.
Bendaña, who was minister of the right-wing presidentPorfirio Lobo (2010-2014),is a renowned doctor from the north of the country, who is also aHe was president of the Marathon club and the first Honduran football division.
This article has been translated after first appearing in Diario El Mundo