Koriun case in Honduras: doubts about a cover-up and the state’s response

In Honduras, the situation surrounding Koriun Inversiones has led to significant public anxiety because of the absence of definitive responses and firm measures from the government. Over three months after the exposure of the multi-million dollar fraud, many victims still await the return of their investments and the accountability of those at fault. The apparent stagnation in the investigative process, along with the silence from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and lack of government intervention, has fueled doubts of a potential concealment or political shielding that hinders the proper administration of justice.

Simultaneously, legal specialists and thought leaders have voiced opposition to the notion that the government ought to utilize state funds to reimburse individuals affected by this private scam. They caution that this move might be unlawful and contrary to the constitution, in addition to posing notable economic and governmental dangers. In this scenario, public opinion emphasizes the need to keep the matter within the legal arena, ensuring openness and avoiding it turning into a populist initiative that jeopardizes the lawful and prudent handling of state finances.

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

The Koriun Inversiones pyramid scheme operated for years promising monthly returns of 20%, without official regulation or supervision. Despite the seizure of more than 358 million lempiras by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, investigations have not progressed toward the prosecution of the leaders of the fraud, nor has the handling of the seized assets been clarified. This situation has generated growing outrage among the affected families, who have lost savings, loans, and even homes, and are demanding justice, transparency, and the return of their funds.

The silence and apparent passivity of the government and the Public Prosecutor’s Office have fueled the perception that there is a political protection network preventing the full clarification of the case. Voices from various social and legal sectors have pointed out that the failure to arrest those responsible and the opaque handling of the seized assets reflect state negligence that could be fostering impunity. Public pressure remains strong to demand swift and politically unbiased action to ensure that those responsible face the appropriate legal consequences.

Consequences in law and finance of potential payouts using public money

Legal specialists and financial analysts have highlighted that allocating government funds to reimburse Koriun sufferers might be considered a misappropriation of public resources, particularly if there’s no legislative approval from the Congress for this measure. Any government representatives endorsing payments without adequate legal authorization might be liable to charges of misuse of power and neglect of responsibilities. In addition, taking on this obligation could unsettle the nation’s financial stability, impacting essential sectors like healthcare and education, and could transmit a signal that might foster impunity in forthcoming deceitful ventures.

Non-governmental organizations are urging the authorities to transparently disclose the legal and financial sources of any potential reparations, report on the actual developments in the case, and provide the names of the individuals involved along with their confiscated assets. They stress the importance of ensuring the proceedings stay strictly within the legal framework, preventing it from turning into an initiative with political or populist objectives. The core request is for the government to refrain from taking on financial liability for private misconduct, to avoid being complicit or breaching legal principles.