Honduran judge orders release of Juan Orlando Hernandez during fraud and money-laundering trial

A judge in Honduras ruled Monday that former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who returned to the Central American country after receiving a U.S. presidential pardon connected to drug-trafficking charges, will not be jailed while his ongoing corruption trial proceeds, according to a report from The Washington Times.

The decision comes as prosecutors press a separate set of allegations against Hernandez in Honduras, including fraud and money laundering. The judge’s ruling allows Hernandez to remain outside detention as the case moves forward, the report said, shifting the focus to trial schedules and further court proceedings rather than immediate custody.

Hernandez’s legal posture has been shaped by events in the United States. The Washington Times reported that his return to Honduras followed a Trump administration pardon for drug trafficking charges there, after which he resumed involvement in Honduran proceedings tied to alleged corruption conduct.

The Monday ruling addresses the question of pretrial confinement in the Honduran case. While the report does not detail the judge’s stated reasoning beyond the order that Hernandez will not be jailed, it indicates the court determined that release during trial is permitted while fraud and money-laundering allegations are adjudicated.

For Hernandez, the ruling means the case will continue without an immediate incarceration step by the court. For prosecutors, it preserves the ability to pursue the charges through the ordinary trial process, including hearings, evidentiary submissions, and testimony, rather than focusing on custody issues.

The decision also highlights the separate tracks of accountability pursued in different jurisdictions. Hernandez’s U.S. pardon, as described by the report, does not end the Honduran corruption case, and the Honduran judge’s order underscores that the local trial will proceed under Honduran legal standards even after a U.S. outcome.

As the corruption trial continues, the next developments will likely depend on the Honduran court’s scheduling and rulings on trial logistics, including deadlines for filings and the handling of witnesses and evidence. Hernandez’s release status will remain a central procedural issue through the duration of the proceedings unless the court later modifies its order.