OAS urges Honduras to be swift in social security scandal

WASHINGTON – The Organization of American States is calling on Honduras to work more swiftly to clear up a $300 million embezzlement scandal involving the Central American country’s social security system.

Thursday’s call came from a special mission created to root out corruption in Honduras, the organization’s first such foray. It was created in February at Honduras’ invitation amid growing street protests calling for an international body such as the U.N.-sponsored one that investigated corruption in neighbouring Guatemala.

Last month the mission asked Honduras’ security secretary to capture 10 fugitives related to the case. It says it has identified 47 lines of investigation and expects six trials to start in the coming months.

The report also said that organized crime posed a real threat to the justice system.