Suleman Chitera 
Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of corruption in a case involving alleged bribes linked to a Chinese company.
Moreno, who served as Ecuador’s president from 2017 to 2021, was convicted alongside 19 other people in a major corruption case that has attracted significant attention in the South American country.
The 73-year-old former president has consistently denied receiving bribes from the Chinese company allegedly involved in the construction of a hydroelectric power project.
Despite the guilty verdict, Moreno has announced that he will appeal the decision.
Lenín Moreno to Serve Sentence Under House Arrest
Although Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison, authorities have ruled that he will serve the punishment under house arrest.
The decision takes into account his age and disability.
Moreno, who has used a wheelchair since becoming disabled following a shooting in 1998, has continued to reject allegations that he benefited from corrupt payments.
His legal team is expected to challenge the verdict through the appeals process.
Moreno Convicted With 19 Others
The court found Moreno guilty alongside 19 other individuals accused of being involved in the corruption scheme.
Those convicted include Moreno’s wife, his wife’s son and his brother.
In addition to prison sentences, the convicted individuals have been ordered to repay money they received through the alleged corruption scheme and pay financial penalties imposed by the court.
The case centres on allegations that bribes were paid in connection with contracts linked to a major hydroelectric infrastructure project.
Moreno has maintained that the allegations against him are politically motivated and has denied personally receiving illicit payments.
Moreno’s Presidency of Ecuador
Lenín Moreno became president of Ecuador in 2017, succeeding Rafael Correa.
He served in office until 2021 before being succeeded by Guillermo Lasso.
Moreno’s presidency was marked by political divisions, economic challenges and controversy surrounding corruption allegations.
His latest conviction adds to Ecuador’s history of former presidents facing serious legal troubles.
According to reports, Moreno is the eighth former Ecuadorian leader to be imprisoned over corruption-related offences, highlighting the long-running political and judicial challenges surrounding corruption in the country.
Moreno Vows to Appeal
Following the verdict, Moreno rejected the court’s decision and said he would appeal.
The appeal process could determine whether the conviction and sentence remain in force.
The case is likely to continue attracting international attention because of Moreno’s former position as Ecuador’s head of state and the number of people convicted alongside him.
For now, the former president remains legally obligated to comply with the sentence while pursuing his appeal.
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