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Ecuadorian Ex-President Lenín Moreno Convicted of Bribery, Sentenced to Five Years
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Ecuadorian Ex-President Lenín Moreno Convicted of Bribery, Sentenced to Five Years

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency In the courts
  • Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery concerning the financing of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant.
  • The court found that Chinese company Sinohydro paid millions in bribes, distributed to various entities including Moreno's family circle, to secure financing for the project.
  • Moreno, along with 20 other defendants including his wife and children, were declared guilty; he maintains his innocence, claiming the case is a politically motivated fabrication by former President Rafael Correa.

A court in Ecuador has convicted former President Lenín Moreno of bribery, sentencing him to five years in prison. The conviction stems from his alleged role in facilitating financing for the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, Ecuador's largest, operated by Chinese firm Sinohydro.

The National Court of Justice found that Sinohydro paid millions in bribes, which were then channeled through a business network and distributed to various companies and individuals, including members of Moreno's inner circle. These payments were allegedly made to secure financing for the 1,500-megawatt plant from the Eximbank. Moreno served as vice president under former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017) during the period when these alleged acts occurred.

In addition to Moreno, 20 other individuals were implicated, including his wife, Rocío González, their daughters Irina and other family members, as well as former Chinese ambassador Cai Runguo. Moreno's wife, daughter, and other relatives received sentences of two years and six months, while Moreno and the former ambassador were given the maximum five-year sentence. Moreno's friend Conto Patiño also received a five-year sentence.

I have not received a single centavo from Sinohydro.

— Lenín MorenoDenying the bribery charges.

Prosecutors argued that Moreno misused his position as vice president to improperly influence the project and secure benefits through third parties. However, Moreno vehemently denied the charges, stating he never received "a single centavo from Sinohydro" and suggested the case was a retaliatory fabrication by former President Correa. Moreno asserted that upon becoming president, he initiated investigations into projects from the Correa administration, including the hydroelectric plant, which he claimed had thousands of defects.

This first-instance ruling is subject to appeal by Moreno and the other convicted individuals. Beyond the prison sentences, Moreno and his family members are ordered to pay triple the amount they allegedly received in bribes, while other defendants must pay double.

Come afterwards.

— Ralf NoltenDistrict Administrator advising Chancellor Merz on when to visit the fire zone.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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