Honduras court upholds acquittal of ex-President Lobo in fraud case

A Honduran appeals court has upheld the acquittal of former President Porfirio Lobo in a fraud case that also implicates ex-President Juan Orlando Hernández. The decision means Lobo is definitively cleared in the matter.

Hernández, who served as president from 2014 to 2022, faces further proceedings. He is due to appear before a judge on August 3rd. Hernández was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022, where he was tried and convicted of drug trafficking in 2024, receiving a 45-year prison sentence. However, he received a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump on December 1, 2025.

The case, known as 'Pandora II,' alleges that Lobo and other individuals created a corruption network between 2010 and 2013. This network allegedly facilitated the disbursement of over 288 million lempiras (approximately $10.7 million) to two foundations. Prosecutors claim these diverted funds were used to finance Lobo's 2013 election campaign. Lobo was initially granted a definitive acquittal in February 2024, with the prosecution failing to present sufficient evidence of his involvement, according to the court's ruling.