Key facts
- A Honduran court dismissed fraud and money laundering charges against former President Juan Orlando Hernández.
- The court cited insufficient evidence to establish Hernández's participation in the alleged events.
- Hernández was previously convicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to 45 years.
- U.S. President Donald Trump issued a presidential pardon to Hernández.
- The charges related to the alleged diversion of over $10.8 million in state funds.
A Honduran judge on Tuesday dismissed fraud and money laundering charges against former President Juan Orlando Hernández. The court ruled that the evidence presented did not establish Hernández's participation in the investigated events, leading to his definitive release. Hernández, who has consistently maintained his innocence, declared that this ruling closes a "chapter of political persecution." He had been extradited to the United States in 2022 to face drug trafficking charges, for which he was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison. However, he received a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump late last year. The charges in Honduras, part of the Pandora I investigation, alleged the diversion of over 288 million lempiras ($10.8 million) in state funds between 2010 and 2013, with prosecutors claiming Hernández benefited by at least 62 million lempiras ($2.3 million) for his political campaign. Similar charges were also dropped against former President Porfirio Lobo and ex-finance minister Wilfredo Cerrato.