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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Crime & Justice

Ecuadorian judiciary launches probe into judge in 'COVID Tests-Bucaram' case

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Ecuador's judiciary has opened a disciplinary investigation into a judge involved in the 'COVID Tests-Bucaram' case.
  • The judge is accused of unduly prolonging the trial phase by repeatedly postponing decisions after the deliberation period.
  • The investigation aims to determine if a disciplinary infraction occurred, while ensuring the judge's due process rights.

The Judiciary Council of Pichincha, Ecuador, has initiated a disciplinary investigation against a judge presiding over the "COVID Tests-Bucaram" criminal case. The judge, identified as G. H. C. G., is accused of significantly delaying the judicial process.

According to the National Directorate of Management Transparency, the judge's tribunal suspended deliberations on May 14, 2026, promising a decision in early June. However, subsequent court dates were scheduled for July and August 2026, with no resolution yet issued. This prolonged delay is the basis for the disciplinary inquiry.

The investigation will examine the judge's actions to determine if a disciplinary infraction occurred. The Judiciary Council emphasized that it will uphold the judge's rights to due process and the presumption of innocence. The initiation of the inquiry does not automatically imply guilt. The "COVID Tests-Bucaram" case involves former president Abdalá Bucaram, his son Jacobo, and two others, who face charges of organized crime.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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