A court in Quito has sentenced former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno to five years in prison following a corruption conviction. The 73-year-old, who governed the country from 2017 to 2021, will serve his sentence under house arrest, citing his age and disability. He has stated his intention to appeal the ruling.

The case centers on the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam. Prosecutors alleged that the state-owned Chinese firm Sinohydro funneled $76.1 million through shell companies to secure the contract. While investigators noted that Moreno personally received a small portion of the funds, his wife, daughter, and brother were among the 19 other individuals convicted in the scheme and received prison sentences.

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As part of the verdict, Moreno has been prohibited from holding public office, and all those convicted are required to pay back three times the amount they received in bribes. Moreno has denied the allegations, instead pointing to his predecessor, Rafael Correa, who oversaw the project's initial approval. Correa is currently serving an eight-year sentence for a separate bribery case.

The Coca Codo Sinclair project has faced significant scrutiny beyond the bribery trial. In 2021, the Ecuadorian government initiated legal action against Sinohydro due to structural defects, including cracks in the dam. A $400 million settlement was reached with the firm's owner earlier this year.

Source: BBC News