Former Manabí Judge Sentenced to Five Years, Must Pay Million-Dollar Compensation for Prevarication

Gina Marisol Zambrano, a former judge from the Multicompetent Judicial Unit of Montecristi in Manabí, faces a significant legal penalty. A specialized criminal chamber of the Provincial Court of Justice of Manabí has sentenced her to five years in prison for prevarication. This conviction carries a substantial financial consequence: Zambrano must pay $2 million in compensation to the Council of the Judiciary.

The court found Zambrano directly responsible for the crime of prevarication. The Prosecutor's Office reported that her actions involved ordering the release of two individuals who had been convicted of femicide. This decision by Zambrano, made on August 17, prompted an investigation.

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2 million of dollars are part of the reparation

Beyond the hefty financial penalty, the court also accepted a private prosecution from the Council of the Judiciary. This includes measures for comprehensive reparation, such as restoring rights, ensuring non-repetition, addressing the violated rights, and requiring public apologies from the former judge. The $2 million compensation is a key component of this reparation, with further details to be specified in the written ruling.

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The Tribunal declared Zambrano guilty as the direct perpetrator of the crime of prevarication

Zambrano's five-year prison sentence represents the maximum penalty under the Organic Integral Penal Code in effect at the time of the offense. The sentence also includes a fine and a six-month suspension from her professional duties. The oral announcement of the verdict followed a trial where evidence was presented and analyzed by the judges. A written notification will follow, outlining the specifics of the reparation measures and their enforcement.

The investigation into Zambrano's conduct began in March 2023. It was initiated after the Prosecutor's Office learned of her order to release the two femicide convicts from the El Turi Social Rehabilitation Center in Azuay. The Prosecutor's Office subsequently conducted an urgent search of her office, seizing evidence. Charges were formally filed, but the legal process was suspended when Zambrano became a fugitive. She was deported from the United States to Ecuador in May 2026, allowing the judicial proceedings to resume. During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from investigators and forensic experts, along with evidence such as incident reports, seized electronic devices, and official records, including her October 2023 dismissal by the Council of the Judiciary.

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Gina Zambrano released two convicted of femicide