Chilean judge Daniel Urrutia Laubreaux, who collaborated with the former Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) back in 2017, indicated that ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández surfaced within probes concerning the nation’s most monumental corruption scandals. Urrutia offered these declarations while reflecting on his tenure alongside the international initiative backed by the Organization of American States (OAS).
According to Urrutia, Hernández was allegedly mentioned in all ten of the major corruption cases being investigated by the MACCIH during his time with the organization. The former judge emphasized that the investigations involved some of the most significant corruption offenses under examination by the international mission at the time.
The statements have attracted attention because they once again place Hernández’s administration at the center of the debate over corruption and accountability in Honduras. However, the recent comments do not constitute new judicial evidence against the former president, but rather reflect Urrutia’s account of the investigations carried out by the MACCIH.
Urrutia also recalled that in 2018 he and other members of the mission reported obstacles that affected their work. According to his account, the administration headed by Hernández created difficulties for the progress of certain investigations. The Chilean judge was subsequently removed from the international mission.
Urrutia’s comments came in response to a publication by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who referred to Honduras’ security situation during Hernández’s administration and noted the country’s high homicide rate at the time. The exchange brought renewed attention to the political and institutional conditions that prevailed during that period.
The discussion has revived the debate surrounding corruption and security in Honduras under the Hernández government. The MACCIH operated in the country from 2016 to 2020 as an international mechanism designed to support national institutions in investigating and combating corruption and impunity.
The mission was involved in several high-profile investigations during its years of operation, including cases involving alleged misuse of public funds and political networks. Its work, carried out alongside Honduran investigative authorities, became an important part of the country’s efforts to address corruption.
Urrutia’s latest statements have generated discussion among political sectors and on social media, particularly because of the former president’s prominent role in Honduran politics and the broader debate over accountability for alleged corruption during his administration. At this point, the statements remain part of the public discussion surrounding the former MACCIH investigations.
Source: Tiempo — Tiempo