Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno has been sentenced to five years in prison for bribery, according to Ecuador’s National Court of Justice (CNJ) — the ruling came after Moreno was found guilty of accepting payments from the Chinese construction company Sinohydro. The firm allegedly paid $76.1 million (€65.7 million) in bribes to secure a contract for the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, the largest in the country.

Details of the Bribery Scheme

According to the court’s ruling, the bribes benefited Moreno and 19 other defendants, including his wife, Rocío González, who was found to be an accomplice, Moreno is also required to pay €50,000 in reparations. The payments were made to secure the project financing while Moreno was vice president under Rafael Correa’s administration between 2007 and 2013.

Conto Patiño Martínez, a businessman and friend of Moreno, along with Cai Runguo (former Chinese ambassador and Sinohydro representative), Yang Huijun, and Song Dongsheng (both Sinohydro representatives) received the harshest sentence of five years. Other sentences included three years for Luciano Cepeda and Henry Galarza, and two years for González and other family members of Moreno.

Additional Penalties and Reparations

Beyond prison sentences, the ruling mandated broad restitution. This includes returning double or triple the received amounts, public apologies from the defendants, publication of the ruling, and the suspension of the defendants’ rights to participate in public life for a period equal to their sentence. Former public servants are also subject to an indefinite ban on holding public jobs or positions.

The Ecuadorian government had previously taken action against Sinohydro in 2021 due to cracks and other technical failures at the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, though Earlier this year, a $400 million settlement was reached with the firm’s owner, according to the BBC. The BBC has approached Sinohydro and the Chinese embassy in Ecuador for comment on the matter.

Legal and Political Implications

The conviction of Moreno highlights the ongoing legal and political implications of corruption cases in Ecuador; the ruling exposes the government’s efforts to hold public figures accountable for financial misconduct. The involvement of both Ecuadorian and Chinese officials in the bribery scheme points to the international dimensions of the case.

Moreno’s imprisonment reflects the broader trend of legal proceedings against high-profile individuals in Ecuador, the case has drawn attention to the role of foreign corporations in domestic legal and political affairs. The sentences and reparations imposed by the court aim to address the damage caused by the alleged corruption and deter future misconduct.

As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how it will impact Moreno’s political career and the broader political field in Ecuador, the ruling also raises questions about the transparency and accountability of public officials in the country.