Ecuador: Former President Moreno sentenced to six and a half years in prison for corruption in the hydroelectric power plant deal

In connection with the awarding and financing of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric power plant, which cost more than two billion US dollars, he intervened as vice president at the time in favor of the Chinese company Sinohydro. The 73-year-old rejects the allegations as politically motivated and has announced an appeal.

The trial concerned the construction of the country's largest hydroelectric power plant by Sinohydro, which, according to prosecutors, paid a total of 76 million dollars (65 million euros) in bribes in the process. The hydroelectric power plant is located in the Amazon region on the border of the provinces of Napo and Sucumbíos. According to the state energy company CELEC, it covers around 30 percent of the national electricity needs.

Along with Moreno, 19 other defendants were found guilty, including a former Chinese ambassador. Moreno's wife and several of his relatives are expected to go to prison for two and a half years for aiding and abetting. According to prosecutors, the family is said to have pocketed a total of around $1 million in bribes. Moreno announced an appeal against the verdict.

In the case of the 73-year-old ex-president, who sits in a wheelchair, the court fell short of the prosecution's demands. This had demanded six and a half years in prison for Moreno. If his conviction is upheld, his sentence could be commuted to house arrest because of his age and paraplegia.

Moreno was president of the South American country from 2017 to 2021. From 2007 to 2013 he was deputy to the left-wing head of state Rafael Correa. Moreno later fell out with his former mentor Correa, became politically more right-wing and turned to the USA.

After the guilty verdict, Moreno assured that he had “not taken a cent” from Sinohydro. At the same time, he directed accusations against the former “Correa regime”. Correa had "promised to take revenge on me," said Moreno. His predecessor was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for corruption in Ecuador, but lives in exile in Belgium.