Ecuador sentences ex-president Moreno to five years in jail in bribery case

A court in Ecuador has sentenced former President Lenin Moreno to five years in prison on bribery charges related to the country’s largest hydroelectric plant, the Coca Codo Sinclair project. The ruling, delivered on Friday, also imposes a lifetime ban on Moreno holding any public office. The case stems from an investigation by Ecuador’s attorney general, which uncovered an alleged corruption network involving Moreno, his family, and business partners in Ecuador and China.

The tribunal, led by Judge Manuel Cabrera, found Moreno guilty of bribery committed while he served as a public official. Prosecutors allege that between 2009 and 2018, Chinese state-owned firm Sinohydro paid approximately $76.1 million in bribes through fraudulent consulting contracts. These funds were allegedly funneled through overseas accounts and shell companies in tax havens before reaching Moreno’s family and associates. Investigators claim Moreno and his relatives received over $1 million during his time as vice president from 2007 to 2013.

In addition to Moreno, his 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, was also sentenced to five years. The Coca Codo Sinclair plant, which began operations in 2016, has faced ongoing technical issues, raising further scrutiny over the project’s management and contracting process.

Moreno has denied all allegations, asserting in court that he was not involved in signing or overseeing the plant’s contracts. He claimed the corruption originated from those who directly handled the agreements. Moreno, who served as Ecuador’s president from 2017 to 2021, voluntarily returned from Paraguay to face the trial.

The attorney general’s office initiated the investigation in March 2023, marking a significant step in Ecuador’s efforts to combat corruption within major infrastructure projects. The case highlights concerns over international business dealings and the oversight of state-funded initiatives in the country.

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