Tegucigalpa, Honduras
The Presidential Designate of Honduras, Ricardo Álvarez, Denied on Thursday that he had received money from the cartel ‘s ex – leader Cachiros, Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, in exchange for protection to prevent him and his brother from being extradited to the United States, where they are being held.
“I categorically deny any link or receipt of money of illicit origin by Citation of Creek or any other person accused of drug trafficking or any other crime of Transnational Organized Crime, in Honduras and / or any other country in the world, “Alvarez said in a statement.
Alvarez, who served as mayor of Tegucigalpa from 2006 to 2014, noted that throughout his political career he has “had to conduct several election campaigns for the various positions in which I have competed.”
“Derived from the logic of popular representation I greeted, shook hands and talked to thousands of people, so I do not rule out at some point having met someone who does not enjoy a good reputation. Without knowing who it was,” he added. .
Rivera, detained in the United States and testifying in an open trial against the alleged Honduran drug trafficker Geovanny Fonts Ramírez, said that in 2012 he bribed Alvarez with half a million dollars in exchange for protection, to prevent him and his brother from being extradited and also so that they could continue to receive contracts to continue laundering money.
“He promised to repeal Honduras’ extradition law to the United States, ”said Rivera, who further indicated that his organization paid $ 250,000,“ approximately in 2012, ”to the Honduran president. Juan Orlando Hernández, so that they would not arrest him and extradite him to the USA and be able to continue laundering money from drug trafficking.
“The Cachiros bribed Joan Orlando Hernández with money from drug trafficking? asked the assistant prosecutor, to whom Rivera concisely replied, “Yes, sir.”