Ecuador court sentences ex-president Moreno to five years for bribery
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An Ecuadorian court sentenced former President Lenin Moreno to five years in prison for bribery tied to the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant. Moreno, 73, was also permanently barred from holding public office. His wife, daughter, and other relatives received two-and-a-half-year sentences.
Key Facts
- Lenin Moreno, 73, was sentenced to five years in prison and permanently barred from public office.
- Chinese state-owned firm Sinohydro paid roughly $76.1m in bribes between 2009 and 2018 through fraudulent consulting contracts.
- Moreno's wife, daughter, two brothers, and their wives were each sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
- Cai Runguo, China's former ambassador to Quito, received a five-year sentence.
- Prosecutors said Moreno and his close relatives received more than $1m while he served as vice president from 2007 to 2013.
The Bribery Scheme
The attorney general's office launched an investigation in March 2023, linking Moreno, his family members, and local and Chinese business partners to an alleged corruption network connected to the Coca Codo Sinclair plant. The facility began operating in 2016 and has experienced technical problems since. Investigators alleged the funds moved through overseas accounts and shell companies in tax havens before reaching Moreno's family and associates. Moreno has consistently denied the allegations, insisting he had no role in signing or overseeing the project's contracts.
Court Ruling
Judge Manuel Cabrera, head of the tribunal, said Moreno's conduct is consistent with the charges brought by the prosecution: the crime of bribery attributed to a public official. Moreno, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, returned to Ecuador from Paraguay to face trial. During the hearing, Moreno told the court to look at those who signed the contracts and had the habit of demanding kickbacks.
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Ecuador court sentences ex-president Moreno to five years for bribery
