TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — On Monday, August 3, 2026, a Honduran judge ruled that former President Juan Orlando Hernández will not be jailed during his ongoing trial for fraud and money laundering. Hernández returned to Honduras after receiving a pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump for drug trafficking charges in the United States.

Hernández, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022 and was once considered a U.S. ally in the drug war, was extradited to the U.S. after leaving office and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Trump’s pardon allowed him to return to Honduras, where he now faces charges related to the Pandora I case.

The Pandora I investigation, conducted by Honduras's Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit Against Corruption Networks (UFERCO), alleges that from 2010 to 2013, a network of former high-ranking officials approved public fund disbursements exceeding $10.8 million (approximately 288 million lempiras) to various foundations. According to UFERCO, Hernández benefited from these funds, receiving at least $2.3 million (around 62 million lempiras) for his political campaign through schemes involving shell companies, straw men, and fictitious contracts.

Legal experts note that other high-level officials implicated in Pandora I have had their cases dismissed, suggesting a possible similar outcome for Hernández. The former president has denied all charges, stating he faces the case willingly and claims it "lacks any legal basis."

The trial is closely watched as a test of Honduras's justice system, amid criticism that Hernández ruled with impunity during his presidency. Hernández remains barred from leaving the country and must check in weekly with the court.

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