Former Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno sentenced to 5 years for corruption
Former Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno has been sentenced to five years of house arrest for his role in a bribery scheme involving a Chinese hydroelectric project. The conviction marks a significant legal development in Ecuador, where several former leaders have faced corruption charges.
Why it matters
This verdict highlights the ongoing struggle against systemic political corruption in Latin America and the legal accountability of high-ranking officials.
Former Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno was sentenced Friday (August 28, 2026) to 5 years in prison after a court found him guilty of accepting bribes from a Chinese company in exchange for helping it secure a contract to build a hydroelectric plant.
Moreno, who was present for the reading of the verdict, is 73 years old and has a physical disability that prevents him from walking. He will serve the sentence under house arrest.
Moreno was convicted as a direct participant in the bribery scheme during his tenure as Vice President under Rafael Correa. His wife and daughter, two brothers and a brother-in-law were convicted as accomplices. The wife and daughter each received 30-month sentences.
Moreno is the third former Ecuadorian President to be sentenced for corruption, though he was tried for crimes before reaching the Presidency.
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