An Ecuadorian court on Friday found former President Lenin Moreno guilty in a bribery case related to the construction of the Andean country's largest hydroelectric power plant, the Attorney General's Office said.

The Attorney General's Office launched an investigation in March 2023, linking Moreno, members of his family, and local and Chinese business partners to Sinohydro, a company allegedly involved in a corruption network connected to the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant. The plant has experienced technical problems since it began operations in 2016.

Moreno, 73, was sentenced to five years in prison and permanently barred from holding public office in the future.

His wife and daughter, as well as his two brothers and their wives, were also found guilty and sentenced to two years and six months in prison. The former Chinese ambassador to Quito was sentenced to five years in prison.

According to the Attorney General's Office, Sinohydro paid approximately $76m in bribes between 2009 and 2018 through fraudulent consulting contracts. Investigators claimed that the funds were channeled through foreign bank accounts and shell companies in tax havens to Moreno's family and business partners.

Moreno has repeatedly denied the charges. He will serve his sentence under house arrest.

(Reuters, im)