Abdalá Bucaram's trial hearing suspended again due to hospitalization

A criminal court in Guayas has again suspended the trial hearing for former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram, this time citing his hospitalization in a private Guayaquil clinic. The hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2026, was meant to deliver the oral verdict in a case concerning alleged organized crime related to the 'Covid-19 Tests AMT Agents' investigation.

This marks a significant delay in the legal proceedings. Bucaram's defense had requested an adjournment, citing an urgent heart surgery due to a faulty cardiac device, along with diagnoses of atrial fibrillation and flutter. Initially, the court rejected the request and dispatched police to verify his condition. However, his attending physician confirmed Bucaram's critical state in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with a reserved prognosis and restricted visits, preventing police access.

His son, Jacobo Bucaram Pulley, also a defendant in the case, did appear for the remote hearing. The prosecution accuses the defendants of the irregular sale of 21,000 diagnostic tests and medical supplies during the pandemic. The case also involves allegations of using assets and personnel from the Metropolitan Transit Agency (AMT) for transportation and attributing cash payments to the involved parties.

Through his social media accounts, Bucaram's wife, María Rosa Pulley, issued a public statement characterizing the trial as persecution and demanding due process. She detailed that Bucaram underwent surgery following periods of intense emotional stress, reiterated his delicate condition under strict ICU surveillance, and appealed for medical and human consideration due to his deteriorating health.