Honduran court dismisses fraud and money-laundering case against ex-President Hernandez

Honduran authorities reported that a judge has dismissed the fraud and money-laundering accusations against former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, stating that he was not in charge of budgetary decisions when the alleged misconduct occurred and that there is no confirmation that stolen funds were funneled into his 2013 presidential campaign. The ruling arrives nine months after Hernandez was released from U.S. prison, where he had been sentenced for drug-trafficking before receiving a pardon.

In a public statement, Hernandez said the judgment marks the conclusion of what he called political persecution. The case was part of the Pandora II corruption probe, which had alleged diversion of nearly $11 million in state money to political campaigns between 2010 and 2013. Prosecutors have also dropped charges against former President Porfirio Lobo and former finance minister Wilfredo Cerrato. Hernandez, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, said he has no immediate plans to run for office but will support the current administration.