Selaya Alvarez stated on Monday that he has reached out to Interpol and other authorities to request the arrest of Hernandez, who is accused of money laundering and fraud.
“Corruption and criminal networks have deeply affected our country,” the prosecutor noted.
He attached a photo of the Supreme Court arrest warrant, which was issued on November 28, the same day Trump announced Hernandez's pardon. This decision has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. and Honduras.
Hernandez, who served as president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was convicted last year to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million for drug-related crimes.
The allegations against Hernandez relate to a large-scale anti-corruption investigation in Honduras known as "Pandora II," which uncovered fraudulent schemes involving high-ranking politicians and businessmen. Prosecutors claim that Hernandez illegally pocketed about $2.4 million in kickbacks received during his 2013 election campaign.
Hernandez's attorney, Renato Stabile, stated in an interview with CNN that the arrest warrant is a political maneuver by the ruling "Libre" party, which opposes the conservative National Party once led by Hernandez.
According to Stabile, “this is undoubtedly a political move by the losing radical left party 'Libre,' which has been ousted from power by the people of Honduras. It is an absurd political spectacle with unfounded accusations.”
Luis Santos, director of the specialized anti-corruption unit in Honduras, told CNN that a case against Hernandez has been opened in the Supreme Court on charges of money laundering and fraud, and that an international arrest warrant was issued back in September 2023.
Santos added that if Hernandez does not return to Honduras, authorities will seek his extradition from the U.S.
Trump officially pardoned Hernandez on December 3, stating at the White House: “I feel pretty good,” and calling the prosecution “Biden's terrible witch hunt.”
This decision has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who expressed doubts about the justification for pardoning someone convicted of drug trafficking while his administration actively fought against illegal drug trade in Latin America.
U.S. prosecutors accused Hernandez of conspiring with drug cartels during his presidency when over 400 tons of cocaine were trafficked through Honduras to the U.S. In return, he allegedly received millions of dollars in bribes that aided his political career.
Hernandez has insisted on his innocence, claiming that the trial was “fabricated” and based on the testimonies of criminals seeking revenge against him.
The former president thanked Trump for “having the courage to defend justice at a time when the system refuses to acknowledge the truth” in his post on X on Wednesday.
