Former Zelaya Officials Testify Before Magistrate

Radio América today reported that the former manager of the National Electrical Power Company (ENEE), Rixi Moncada, arrived this morning for a preliminary hearing with Judge Mario Ríos at a courthouse in Comayagüela. Mrs. Moncada has been charged by the Public Ministry (MP) with abuse of authority and fraud related to the acquisition of the building that houses the administrative offices of ENEE. The MP alleges that, under Mrs. Moncada, ENEE signed a lease worth Lps 16 million on the building when the government had allocated only Lps 7 million. If found guilty, she would face 3-6 years imprisonment for the fraud charge alone. A few hours after Mrs. Moncada's arrival, former Vice-President Arístides Mejía also appeared to testify before Judge Ríos. Mr. Mejía has been charged by the MP with abuse of authority, falsification of public documents, and fraud in the same case.

The surprise court appearances by Mrs. Moncada and Mr. Mejía are significant in that they represent the first time members of deposed president Manuel Zelaya's government have come forward to answer to criminal charges. Several other members of the Zelaya administration, as well as Mr. Zelaya himself, are accused of a wide assortment of crimes, and warrants have been issued for their arrest. Mrs. Moncada and Mr. Mejía were among Mr. Zelaya's most trusted advisers, representing him at the initial talks in Costa Rica with President Óscar Arias and representatives of the interim government of Roberto Micheletti in the weeks that followed Mr. Zelaya's ousting on June 28, 2009. (2/25/10) (photo of Rixi Moncada courtesy El Heraldo)