Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno Sentenced to 5 Years for Corruption

Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of accepting bribes. The conviction stems from a case involving the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam, undertaken by the Chinese company Sinohydro.

Moreno, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, was vice president under socialist President Rafael Correa between 2007 and 2013, the period during which the alleged bribes were paid. He later broke with Correa, shifting to the right and aligning more closely with the United States.

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never received a single cent

Prosecutors had sought a sentence of six and a half years for the 73-year-old former president, who is paralyzed. Moreno has declared his intention to appeal the court's decision. His wife and other relatives also received nearly three-year sentences for complicity.

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Correa regime

Speaking after the verdict, Moreno maintained his innocence, stating he never received "a single cent" from Sinohydro. He attributed his conviction to a "revenge" plot by his former mentor, Correa, who he claims is also convicted of corruption but resides in Belgium. Prosecutors allege that Sinohydro paid a total of $76 million in bribes, amounting to approximately four percent of the hydroelectric project's costs.

Also convicted in the case are two former executives of the hydroelectric plant. The verdict marks a significant moment in Ecuador's ongoing efforts to combat corruption, particularly concerning major infrastructure projects.

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promised me revenge