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Ecuador sentences Abdalá Bucaram to prison in COVID-19 corruption case
A court in Ecuador has sentenced former President Abdalá Bucaram and his son, Jacobo Bucaram, to nine years and four months in prison. The ruling follows a six-year investigation into a corruption scheme involving the illegal sale of medical supplies, including approximately 21,000 COVID-19 rapid tests, during the 2020 pandemic.
The court designated the Bucarams as collaborators in organized criminal activity. Other individuals involved also received prison sentences, including an ex-transit agent sentenced to 13 years and four months and an Israeli citizen sentenced to two years and eight months.
Abdalá Bucaram, who is 74, attended the hearing via videoconference from a clinic in Guayaquil where he is being treated for heart problems. He has requested medical discharge despite warnings of potential sudden death and has expressed intentions to appeal the decision through the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Entities
Abdalá Bucaram · Attorney General's Office of Ecuador · Daniel Echenagucia · Delcy Rodríguez · Ecuador · Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office · Foro Penal · Jacobo Bucaram · Juan Pablo Guanipa · María Beatriz Martínez · María Corina Machado · Primero Justicia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Juan Pablo Guanipa urged the removal of Delcy Rodríguez to address the electrical crisis.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Martínez reaffirmed her support for María Corina Machado. espiganoticias.net · yaracuyaldia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A power fluctuation affected at least 11 Venezuelan states on the night of September 8.
- [● 3 SOURCES] María Beatriz Martínez returned to Venezuela after two years in exile. espiganoticias.net · primeraedicioncol.com · yaracuyaldia.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Martínez called for the reinstitutionalization of the State, including an autonomous Judiciary and National Electoral Council. espiganoticias.net · primeraedicioncol.com · yaracuyaldia.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abdalá Bucaram and Jacobo Bucaram were sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for organized crime. cerolatitud.ec · www.expreso.ec
- [● 2 SOURCES] Foro Penal reported that a court denied the release of Daniel Echenagucia after two years of detention without trial. foropenal.com · lapatilla.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The sentencing is part of the investigation into the irregular commercialization of COVID-19 tests. cerolatitud.ec · www.expreso.ec
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bucaram announced intentions to appeal to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. ecuadorendirecto.com · www.sisepuedeecuador.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Abdalá Bucaram requested medical discharge from a clinic despite facing risks of sudden death due to heart issues. gwg.ng · ecuadorendirecto.com · www.sisepuedeecuador.com · lajornadasanluis.com.mx · myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] A court in Ecuador sentenced former President Abdala Bucaram and his son Jacobo to nine years and four months in prison. gwg.ng · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · cerolatitud.ec · lajornadasanluis.com.mx · myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] An ex-transit agent, Leandro Berrones, was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison. gwg.ng · lajornadasanluis.com.mx