Ecuador's top court schedules hearing on Lenín Moreno's request to suspend prison sentence in Sinohydro case

Ecuador's National Court of Justice has scheduled a hearing on former President Lenín Moreno's request to avoid serving a five-year prison sentence in the Sinohydro bribery case. The court will examine the request on Monday.

Moreno filed the petition with his wife, Rocío González, his daughter, Irina Moreno, and his brothers Edwin and Guillermo. Moreno received a five-year sentence, while his relatives received two years and six months. Seven other people convicted in the case also sought the same measure.

The court sentenced Moreno and 19 others after finding them guilty of bribery connected to the financing and construction of Coca Codo Sinclair, Ecuador's largest hydroelectric plant. Chinese company Sinohydro built the 1,500-megawatt facility. Judges said the company paid millions of dollars to a business network, which later distributed the money among companies and individuals, including members of Moreno's family.

The alleged conduct dates to 2010, when Moreno served as vice president under Rafael Correa. Prosecutors said Moreno and his family received part of $76 million in bribes paid by Sinohydro. Judges accepted the prosecution's argument that Moreno used his office to intervene in an area outside his authority and favor the company. Moreno has denied the accusations.

Moreno and his relatives rely on a provision of the criminal code that applied when the alleged offenses occurred. It allows courts to suspend a prison sentence of up to five years if other conditions are met, including the absence of another active sentence or pending case. A 2021 reform removed the benefit for people convicted of crimes such as bribery.