Ecuador Jails Ex-President Lenin Moreno for 5 Years in Bribery Case

Ecuador’s judicial system has sentenced former President Lenin Moreno to five years in prison following his conviction for accepting bribes from China’s Sinohydro in connection with the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam project. The court handed down the sentence on Friday, capping a high-profile corruption case that also implicated Moreno’s wife and several relatives. The ruling marks a significant development in Ecuador’s ongoing efforts to address graft within government infrastructure deals.

Prosecutors alleged that Moreno, who served as Ecuador’s president from 2017 to 2021, accepted bribes totaling $76 million—approximately four percent of the dam’s total cost—during and after his tenure as vice president under Rafael Correa (2007–2013). Sinohydro, the state-owned Chinese construction firm behind the Coca Codo Sinclair project, is accused of paying the bribes to secure contracts and favorable terms. In total, 20 individuals, including former power plant managers, were convicted in the case.

Moreno, now 73 and paraplegic, has denied wrongdoing, asserting that he never personally received funds. He attributed the prosecution to political retaliation, claiming his former ally-turned-rival, Rafael Correa—who was also convicted in absentia and now resides in Belgium—sought “revenge” after their alliance collapsed. Correa, a leftist leader, initially backed Moreno’s rise to the presidency but their relationship deteriorated as Moreno shifted Ecuador’s foreign policy toward the United States and adopted more conservative economic policies.

The court’s decision comes after prosecutors sought a six-and-a-half-year sentence, which was reduced to five years. Moreno’s wife and several relatives received nearly three-year sentences for complicity. All convicted parties have indicated plans to appeal the ruling, prolonging what has become one of Ecuador’s most closely watched corruption trials.

The Coca Codo Sinclair dam, Ecuador’s largest hydroelectric facility, has long been mired in controversy over cost overruns, construction flaws, and allegations of corruption during its development. Critics argue that the project exemplifies systemic graft in public-private partnerships, particularly those involving Chinese state-backed enterprises. Sinohydro has not publicly responded to the allegations.

Moreno’s legal troubles underscore the broader challenges facing Ecuador’s judiciary as it navigates complex cases involving high-ranking officials and international business entities. The case also reflects the country’s tense political climate, where corruption allegations frequently intersect with partisan divisions.

#Ecuador #LeninMoreno #CocaCodoSinclair #RafaelCorrea #Sinohydro #Corruption #HydroelectricDam #JudicialRuling