Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty in a major corruption case linked to the construction of Ecuador’s largest hydroelectric power plant.

An Ecuadorian court delivered the ruling on Friday, August 28, 2026, finding Moreno guilty of bribery in the high-profile Sinohydro case, which centers on the multibillion-dollar Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project.

Prosecutors alleged that approximately $76.1 million in bribes were connected to fraudulent consulting agreements and financial transactions involving individuals tied to the project. Authorities said more than $1 million allegedly reached Moreno and members of his family during a period when he served as Ecuador’s vice president.

Moreno, 73, served as vice president under former President Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2013 before becoming Ecuador’s president in 2017. He remained in office until 2021.

The former leader has strongly denied receiving illegal payments. During the proceedings, Moreno argued that he neither signed nor supervised contracts related to the hydroelectric project and insisted that investigators had wrongly targeted him. He has maintained his innocence and is expected to challenge the ruling.

The court also permanently barred Moreno from holding public office. Because of his physical disability, reports indicate that the five-year sentence is expected to be served under house arrest if the judgment remains in force.

Several members of Moreno’s family were also convicted, including his wife, daughter and other relatives, while former Chinese ambassador to Ecuador Cai Runguo was among those receiving a five-year sentence.

The dramatic judgment marks another major chapter in Ecuador’s long-running battle against political corruption and places Moreno among former leaders of the South American nation to face criminal convictions after leaving office.

Despite the ruling, Moreno has vowed to remain in Ecuador and continue fighting to clear his name.