An Ecuadorian court on Friday found former President Lenin Moreno guilty of bribery in connection with the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam, the country’s largest such facility. Moreno, who served as president from 2017 to 2021 and was previously vice president from 2007 to 2013, was sentenced to five years in prison and barred permanently from holding public office. However, he remains free pending appeal and sentencing procedures.

The case centers on allegations that Moreno accepted bribes from Sinohydro, a Chinese state-owned company responsible for building the dam. The prosecution said Sinohydro paid around $76.1 million in kickbacks between 2009 and 2018 through fraudulent consulting contracts. Investigators linked Moreno, his family members, and local and Chinese business partners to a corruption network that allegedly routed illicit payments through overseas accounts and shell companies registered in tax havens.

Moreno’s wife, daughter, two brothers, and their spouses were also convicted and sentenced to two and a half years each. Additionally, Cai Runguo, China’s former ambassador to Quito, received a five-year prison sentence related to the same case.

At the time of the alleged offenses, Moreno was serving as vice president under President Rafael Correa, a socialist leader who initially backed Moreno’s presidential bid. Moreno later distanced himself from Correa after assuming office, shifting toward policies aligned more closely with the United States. Correa, who is currently exiled in Belgium amid his own corruption convictions, has denied involvement.

Moreno has consistently rejected the charges, asserting that he did not receive any money from Sinohydro or have a role in the contracts. Following the court ruling, Moreno attributed the accusations to political retaliation by Correa’s supporters, characterizing the case as a vendetta.

The Coca Codo Sinclair dam began operations in 2016 but has faced ongoing technical difficulties. The investigation into corruption surrounding its construction was launched by Ecuador’s attorney general in March 2023. Prosecutors have sought a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Moreno, but the court ultimately ruled on a five-year term. The verdict highlights continuing concerns over corruption involving public infrastructure projects in Ecuador and the role of foreign contractors.