Honduran Ex-President Returns Home for Fraud Trial After Trump Pardon

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Tegucigalpa: Juan Orlando Hernández, former Honduran president, has returned to Honduras to face domestic fraud and money laundering accusations following a pardon from Donald Trump that terminated his prison sentence in the United States.

Hernández had been doing time in the United States after being convicted of narcotics trafficking charges. His pardon cleared the path for his return, and Honduran prosecutors started further investigations into alleged corruption, misuse of public funds, and money laundering while he was in office.

Authorities placed the former president in judicial custody pending court proceedings. Hernández has rejected all claims against him, but prosecutors say there is enough evidence to proceed the prosecution. The trial is expected to be one of the country's most keenly watched corruption trials, with supporters accusing the proceedings of being politically motivated and critics arguing that they are a critical test of accountability and the rule of law.