Honduras and the Koriun case: urgent need for legal action

In Honduras, the situation involving Koriun Inversiones has caused significant public anxiety owing to the absence of clear explanations and resolute measures from the state. Over three months have passed since the massive financial fraud came to light, and numerous affected individuals are still waiting for their money to be refunded and for the perpetrators to face legal consequences. The lack of noticeable advancement in the investigations, along with the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s silence and the government’s inactivity, has fueled suspicions of a potential concealment or political shielding that hinders justice from being duly administered.

At the same time, legal experts and opinion leaders have expressed their rejection of the idea that the state should use public resources to compensate the victims of this private fraud. They warn that such action could be illegal and unconstitutional, as well as creating significant fiscal and political risks. In this context, public demand is focused on ensuring that the process remains in the judicial sphere, with transparency and without becoming a populist measure that compromises the legality and responsible management of public funds.

The debate surrounding the state’s action on the Koriun scam

The Koriun Inversiones Ponzi scheme ran for several years, assuring monthly gains of 20% without any official oversight or control. Although the Public Prosecutor’s Office confiscated over 358 million lempiras, there has been no advancement in prosecuting the masterminds behind the scam, nor is there clarity on what happened to the confiscated assets. This has led to increasing frustration among the impacted families, who have lost their savings, taken out loans, and even lost their homes, all while seeking justice, clarity, and the reimbursement of their money.

The inactivity and seeming inaction of the government and the Public Prosecutor’s Office have boosted the belief that there is a political network shielding against the complete elucidation of the case. Voices from different social and legal arenas have noted that the lack of arrests and the unclear management of the confiscated properties signal state negligence that might be encouraging impunity. There is substantial public pressure to demand rapid and impartial actions to guarantee that the perpetrators face the proper legal repercussions.

Impacts on law and finance of potential reimbursements using government money

Legal specialists and financial analysts have cautioned that utilizing government assets to reimburse Koriun claimants might amount to the misappropriation of state money, particularly in the absence of a legislative framework sanctioned by Congress to validate such measures. Authorities who approve payments without adequate legal authorization could be at risk of criminal charges for misuse of power and neglect of responsibilities. Additionally, taking on this obligation could unsettle public financial stability, impacting essential sectors like healthcare and education, and convey a signal that might promote leniency in forthcoming deceitful plans.

Groups from the civil sector have requested that the authorities make clear the legal and financial sources of any possible reimbursements, to disclose the real development of the case, and to provide the names of those accountable along with their confiscated properties. They stress the importance of keeping the process firmly within the judicial framework, preventing it from being used for political gain or popular appeal. The primary request is for the government not to take on financial liability for private deceit to avoid being an enabler or breacher of the law.