Lenín Moreno: Ecuador court denies sentence suspension in Sinohydro case

Lenín Moreno Sinohydro case Coca Codo Sinclair bribery conviction Ecuadorian judiciary

The Ecuadorian National Court of Justice has rejected requests for the conditional suspension of prison sentences for former President Lenín Moreno and 11 other individuals convicted in the Sinohydro case. Moreno, who was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery related to the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project, sought to avoid incarceration based on his age and disability.

The court ruled that under the current Organic Integral Penal Code (COIP), bribery is an offense that does not qualify for sentence suspension. Judges noted that while the crimes occurred between 2008 and 2018, the judicial process began in 2023 when the restrictive legislation was already in effect, preventing the application of the principle of favorability.

The ruling also affects Moreno's family members, including his wife Rocío González, his daughter Irina Moreno, and his brothers Edwin and Guillermo Moreno, who were convicted as accomplices. The corruption scheme involved approximately 76.1 million dollars in irregular payments. In addition to prison terms, the defendants face economic reparations exceeding 163 million dollars and a permanent ban from holding public office. Moreno has denied all allegations, claiming the prosecution is politically motivated.

Entities

Coca Codo Sinclair · Corte Nacional de Justicia · Ecuador · Lenín Moreno · Sinohydro

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The bribery scheme involved approximately 76.1 million dollars in irregular payments. www.prensa-latina.cu · www.expreso.ec
[● 4 SOURCES] The court ruled that the bribery offense is excluded from sentence suspension under the current Organic Integral Penal Code (COIP). elmercurio.com.ec · www.larepublica.ec · www.prensa-latina.cu · www.expreso.ec
[● 3 SOURCES] Lenín Moreno's wife, daughter, and brothers were also convicted as accomplices in the Sinohydro case. elmercurio.com.ec · www.larepublica.ec · www.prensa-latina.cu
[○ 1 SOURCE] The defendants face economic reparations totaling more than 163 million dollars. www.prensa-latina.cu
[○ 1 SOURCE] Lenín Moreno denied any involvement in the decision-making or execution of the Coca Codo Sinclair project. www.elcomercio.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The court denied the requests for conditional suspension of the sentences. notimercio.ec · tctelevision.com · elmercurio.com.ec · www.larepublica.ec
[● 3 SOURCES] The National Court of Justice rejected requests for conditional suspension of sentences for Lenín Moreno and 11 others. notimercio.ec · tctelevision.com · elmercurio.com.ec
[● 4 SOURCES] Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery. notimercio.ec · elmercurio.com.ec · www.larepublica.ec · www.prensa-latina.cu