Trump-Pardoned Honduran Ex-President Allowed to Remain Free Amid Corruption Trial

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Tegucigalpa: Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández will remain free during his trial for corruption, after a judge denied prosecutors' plea to jail him. The decision comes months after US President Donald Trump pardoned Hernández's 45-year jail sentence for drug trafficking and permitted him to return to Honduras.

Hernández is accused of fraud and money laundering in the Pandora I corruption case, in which prosecutors claim more than $2.3 million in public cash was syphoned to assist political campaigns via shell firms and forged contracts. He denied all accusations and claims the prosecution is politically driven.

Instead of pre-trial custody, the judge ordered Hernández to surrender his passport, appear before officials regularly, and remain in Honduras while the trial is ongoing. His next court appearance is set on August 12.