Ecuador Court Jails Former President Moreno for 5 Years
What Happened
An Ecuadorian court sentenced former President Lenín Moreno to five years in prison after finding him guilty of accepting bribes linked to the $2 billion Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project built by China's Sinohydro. Prosecutors alleged a corruption network collected bribes worth about 4% of the project's value, with Moreno among the beneficiaries. Due to a physical disability, Moreno is expected to serve the sentence under house arrest.
Key Takeaways
The verdict marks one of Ecuador's biggest anti-corruption rulings, adding Moreno to the list of former presidents convicted in graft cases and shining a spotlight on alleged corruption linked to major infrastructure projects.