TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) 鈥� Four years after being former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hern谩ndez arrived in his country Sunday to face corruption charges that lawyers fear will be a sham process.
Hern谩ndez, once considered an ally by the U.S. in the drug war, led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, during which he boasted that he would according to U.S. prosecutors.
His extradition shortly after leaving office marked a rare chance at justice for Hondurans, who feared his hold on the country’s justice system would never allow a conviction on Honduran soil.
But the former leader, was released in December, to the shock of many in the U.S. and Honduras, after receiving a . He said Hern谩ndez did not receive a fair trial and that it was a setup orchestrated by the Biden administration.
Hern谩ndez now returns to Honduras to face corruption charges amid concerns that a weak justice system and will ensure his impunity.
鈥淭here is a social majority that is outraged but doesn鈥檛 speak out because of fear,鈥� said Joaqu铆n Mej铆a, lawyer and researcher for the human rights organization Reflection, Research and Communication Team. “We鈥檙e talking about the boss of all drug bosses.鈥�
Some in the country welcomed his return. Hern谩ndez was greeted at Palmerola International Airport by his mother, wife, kids and granddaughter as well as dozens of supporters of his National Party.
鈥淭he moment has arrived. After four years, I can finally tell you that we will see each other again,鈥� Hern谩ndez said in a video posted on social media before his arrival.
Hern谩ndez, 57, faces charges related to a case known as Pandora I, which alleges that a network of former high-ranking officials from 2010 to 2013 participated in the expansion and approval of public funds disbursements totaling more than 288 million lempiras ($10.8 million) to various foundations, according to an investigation by the country’s Specialized Prosecutor鈥檚 Unit Against Corruption Networks, or UFERCO.
According to UFERCO, Hern谩ndez benefited from these disbursements, receiving at least 62 million lempiras ($2.3 million) for his political campaign through various schemes, including the creation of shell companies, the use of straw men and fictitious contracts.
Hern谩ndez has said he is innocent and that the case 鈥渓acks any legal basis.鈥�
In June, a judge suspended his at the request of Hern谩ndez鈥檚 lawyer, although the case is still pending. The former president has agreed to appear before the judge on Aug. 3 for his arraignment.
Other high-level officials implicated in Pandora I whose cases have been dismissed indicate the likely outcome for Hern谩ndez, according to legal experts.
鈥淓verything points to the suspension being the first step,鈥� Mej铆a said. 鈥淗e鈥檒l come, they鈥檒l likely issue him alternative measures to imprisonment to keep up appearances, and then he鈥檒l end up without any problem, without any sanction.鈥�
For Luis Javier Santos, the former head of UFERCO who investigated the case against Hern谩ndez, the former leader鈥檚 return represents a failure to prosecute him for his crimes rather than a chance for justice.
Santos was removed from his role in UFERCO in February in what he believes demonstrated attempts to stifle anti-corruption investigations by the new government of Nasry Asfura, of Hern谩ndez’s National Party, which after
鈥淲e have gone backward to an even worse point than when all the work to fight corruption began,鈥� Santos said.
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Brigida reported from Mexico City.
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