Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of bribery linked to the construction of the country’s largest hydroelectric power plant.
An Ecuadorian court handed down the sentence on Friday, August 28, 2026, after finding Moreno guilty of being a direct participant in a bribery scheme connected to the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project, built by Chinese company Sinohydro.
However, Moreno, 73, is expected to serve the sentence under house arrest because of a physical disability that affects his ability to walk. He has also been permanently barred from holding public office.
Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office said 20 people were convicted in the case following a trial that examined alleged illicit payments surrounding the awarding and execution of the hydroelectric project. Five defendants, including Moreno, were sentenced to five years as direct perpetrators, while others received lesser sentences for their roles in the scheme.
Prosecutors alleged that Sinohydro paid about $76.1 million in bribes through a network of companies and offshore accounts to secure the contract and financing for the project. Investigators said members of Moreno’s family received more than $1 million through the network.
The Coca Codo Sinclair project, valued at about $2 billion, began construction in 2010 and started operating in 2016. The facility has since faced criticism over technical and structural problems.
The alleged corruption occurred largely between 2007 and 2013, when Moreno was serving as vice-president under then-President Rafael Correa. Moreno later succeeded Correa as president in 2017 and governed until 2021.
During his presidency, Moreno moved away from Correa’s political camp and adopted a more conservative position, while strengthening Ecuador’s relationship with the United States.
Moreno has denied wrongdoing, arguing that he did not sign or oversee the contracts related to the hydroelectric project.
ALSO READ:IG Reveals What Inspired Nigeria’s Proposed State Police Framework
Hope you find the Above publication useful, Calabargist will love to keep you updated via our newsletter by subscribing with your email.
