Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Ecuador Court Sentences Former President Lenín Moreno Over Sinohydro Bribery
An Ecuadoran court found former President Lenín Moreno guilty in a bribery case.
The case involved a large hydroelectric dam built by the Chinese company Sinohydro.
Prosecutors said money was paid illegally during the project.
They said the alleged bribes totaled $76 million.
Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison.
He says he never received any money and plans to appeal.
He also blamed his former political ally Rafael Correa for the case.
Twenty people were convicted, including some former power-plant managers.
Former Ecuadoran president Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison for accepting bribes linked to the Coca Codo Sinclair dam.
Prosecutors said Moreno was among 20 people convicted in the case involving China’s Sinohydro.
Authorities alleged that Sinohydro paid $76 million in bribes, equal to about 4% of the project’s cost.
Moreno, who governed from 2017 to 2021, denied receiving any money and said he would appeal.
His wife and other relatives received nearly three-year sentences for complicity, while prosecutors had sought 6.5 years for Moreno.
- Who
- Former Ecuadoran president Lenín Moreno and 19 other people were convicted; Moreno’s wife and relatives were also sentenced for complicity.
- What
- A court sentenced Moreno to five years in prison for accepting alleged bribes connected to the Coca Codo Sinclair dam project.
- When
- The ruling was issued on Friday; the alleged corruption occurred between 2007 and 2013.
- Where
- Ecuador, in a case involving the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam.
- Why
- Prosecutors said Sinohydro paid $76 million in bribes during construction of the dam.
Prosecution and Court Findings
Moreno’s Defense
Whether Moreno accepted bribes
Prosecution and Court Findings
Prosecutors said Moreno accepted bribes connected to Sinohydro’s construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair dam, and the court found him guilty.
Moreno’s Defense
Moreno insisted that he had never received “a single cent” from Sinohydro.
Meaning of the case
Prosecution and Court Findings
Prosecutors presented the case as corruption involving $76 million in alleged payments, approximately 4% of the project’s cost.
Moreno’s Defense
Moreno said the case was driven by the former Correa regime and alleged that Rafael Correa sought revenge against him.
Next legal step
Prosecution and Court Findings
The court imposed a five-year sentence, although prosecutors had requested 6.5 years.
Moreno’s Defense
Moreno has announced that he plans to appeal the ruling.
- Sentence
- Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison.
- Prosecutors’ request
- Prosecutors had sought a 6.5-year prison term.
- Alleged bribes
- Prosecutors said Sinohydro paid $76 million.
- Project
- The case concerns construction of Ecuador’s Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam.
- Convictions
- The prosecution said 20 people were convicted.
- Moreno’s response
- Moreno denied receiving any money and announced plans to appeal.
- Other sentences
- Moreno’s wife and other relatives received nearly three-year sentences for complicity.