Former Honduran President Could Face Extradition to US

The Honduran Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) will officially confirm on Wednesday the names of individuals included on an extradition request from the United States Justice Department. 

Issued on Monday, the extradition request is believed to include the former head-of-state Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero, who is wanted over bribery charges for television contracts during his tenure as head of the Honduran Soccer Federation.

The extradition request “will be revealed during a plenary session of judges on Wednesday where a judge will be appointed in order to carry out further legal actions,” CSJ Spokesperson Melvin Duarte stated on Tuesday. 

Ex-President Callejas, who served in office from 1990 through 1994, is one of several Central American ex-political officials wanted by the United States government on charges of corruption. 

“Within UNCAF, the Central American regional soccer union operating within CONCACAF, the charges in the superseding indictment name the current and/or former presidents of nearly every country in the region: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama,” according to a U.S. Department of Justice Press release. 

The U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a 92-count indictment targeting 16 officials on Dec. 3 as part of its broadening FIFA corruption investigation. The charges allege years of bribes in relation to marketing and broadcasting rights for World Cup bids and soccer tournaments in Latin America. 

The current presidents of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the governing bodies of South America and the North American, Central American and Caribbean regions, are included on the list.

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