Former Ecuadorian President Sentenced to Prison for Hydroelectric Plant Bribery Scheme

Lenin Moreno, 73, has also been permanently barred from holding any public office in the future.

29 Aug 2026

An Ecuadorian court has convicted former President Lenin Moreno of bribery in connection with the construction of the nation’s largest hydroelectric dam, the prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.

Moreno, 73, was handed a five-year prison sentence and is permanently prohibited from serving in public office.

The attorney general’s office initiated its investigation in March 2023, implicating Moreno, his relatives, and local and Chinese business associates in an alleged corruption network tied to the Coca Codo Sinclair facility. The plant commenced operations in 2016 but has since encountered persistent technical issues.

Judge Manuel Cabrera, head of the tribunal, stated, “Lenin Moreno’s conduct aligns with the prosecution’s charges: the crime of bribery attributed to a public official.” Prosecutors revealed that the Chinese state-owned enterprise Sinohydro funneled approximately $76.1 million in bribes between 2009 and 2018 via fraudulent consulting contracts.

Moreno’s wife and daughter, alongside his two brothers and their respective spouses, were also found guilty and sentenced to two and a half years each. Cai Runguo, China’s former ambassador to Quito, likewise received a five-year sentence.

Investigators allege the illicit funds were routed through offshore accounts and shell companies situated in tax havens before reaching Moreno’s family and associates. Prosecutors assert that Moreno and his close relatives accepted over $1 million while he held the office of vice president from 2007 to 2013.

Moreno has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that he played no role in signing or overseeing the project’s contracts.

During the hearing, Moreno told the court, “You are looking in the wrong place. Look at those who signed the contracts and those who had the habit of demanding kickbacks.”

Moreno, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, returned to Ecuador from Paraguay to face the trial.

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