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US: Honduran president's brother found guilty of drug trafficking
 [Al Jazeera] Honduran politician Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernandez was found guilty of United States drug trafficking charges on Friday after a two-week trial that featured dramatic accusations of corruption against his brother, the Central American nation's president.The verdict against Hernandez, 41, on all counts, was handed up by a jury in federal court in Manhattan. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17 and faces up to life in prison. "They reached a verdict that was inconsistent with the truth," one of Hernandez's lawyers, Omar Malone, told journalists outside the court. "We plan to appeal on behalf of Mr Hernandez." Members of Hernandez's family who attended the trial were swarmed by protesters as they left the court. Some protesters chanted "Fuera JOH", meaning "Out with JOH", referring to Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Tony Hernandez was arrested in Miami in 2018 and charged with drug trafficking and possessing illegal weapons. US prosecutors accused him of helping smuggle almost 200,000kg (200 tonnes) of cocaine into the United States while enjoying the protection of his brother. President Hernandez has repeatedly denied the allegation. Related: Juan Orlando Hernandez: 2019-06-21 Honduran president sends military as protests continue Juan Orlando Hernandez: 2019-06-01 Protesters set fire to US embassy in Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez: 2019-01-28 Protests in Honduras against president heat up Posted by: Fred 2019-10-19 |
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