Court Orders Police to Locate Abdalá Bucaram So He Can Hear Sentencing at Sixth Attempt

For the sixth time, an Ecuadorian court ordered the police search unit to locate former President Abdalá Bucaram so he can hear the oral sentence in the Covid-19 tests case.

Bucaram again failed to appear when the trial hearing was due to resume. Prosecutors asked the court to take action and investigate what they described as repeated delays. As in earlier proceedings, the court instructed the police search team to visit the clinic where Bucaram was reportedly staying and determine whether he could hear the ruling.

Bucaram’s defense says he remains hospitalized because of a heart condition. The previous hearing, scheduled for Aug. 31, also failed to resume. On that occasion, police were unable to determine his location after health workers at a Guayaquil clinic did not provide the requested information. Earlier postponements followed the absence of an expert and a defense lawyer, a power outage, and confirmation that Bucaram had been admitted to an intensive care unit.

The former president is being tried alongside his son, Jacobo Bucaram. Prosecutors are investigating alleged organized crime involving the negotiation of 21,000 rapid Covid-19 diagnostic tests. They allege irregularities occurred between March and June 2020, while efforts to legitimize the activity continued through October.

According to the prosecution’s indictment, the alleged structure obtained financial benefits and used property and public employees from Quito’s Metropolitan Transit Agency. Those agents allegedly provided security for foreign nationals identified as Sheinman O. and Shy D. while the tests were transported to Guayaquil. The alleged activities took place in Pichincha, Guayas, Santa Elena and Esmeraldas, involving alleged crimes against the economic development system and public trust.