(CNN Spanish) — The Ecuadorian Attorney General’s Office requested preventive detention against former President Lenín Moreno, his wife, daughter and seven other defendants in the so-called Sinohydro case for failing to comply with the regular court appearances ordered by a judge in March, the Prosecutor’s Communications Division reported to CNN. Moreno is being prosecuted for alleged involvement in the crime of bribery.
Prosecutors made the request during a hearing to review precautionary measures. David Meza, Moreno’s lawyer, told the media that the judge was asked in that review to allow the former president to make regular presentations at the Ecuadorian embassy in Paraguay because his medical condition and disability make it impossible for him to do so be able to go to Ecuador.
According to prosecutors, this case is related to an alleged corruption structure in the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric power plant, which was developed by the Chinese state-owned company Sinohydro in the Ecuadorian provinces of Napo and Sucumbíos.
Lenín Moreno and his wife have been living in Paraguay since early 2022. In an interview with CNN on March 8, the former president denied the allegations against him. He insisted he had no responsibility for awarding the works and viewed the court case as persecution against him and his family.
“I think for the first time in Ecuador’s political life a real persecution has been carried out, a whole family is being tried,” he said.
In early March, National Court Judge Adrián Rojas ordered the tax investigation to begin for 90 days and ordered precautionary measures against Moreno, six family members and 30 others identified in the case.
The amount of the alleged bribery, according to Attorney General Diana Salazar, is $76 million, which is nearly 4% of the contract value. The bribes were allegedly paid between 2010 and June 6, 2018, according to Salazar.
Moreno served as Vice President for the first six years of Rafael Correa’s government (2007-2017) and then as President between 2017 and 2021.
The Chinese embassy in Ecuador replied to CNN in March that it expects Ecuador’s judicial authorities to conduct all investigations and judge the case fairly and objectively.
“The Chinese government always requires Chinese companies to act in accordance with foreign laws and regulations. At the same time, it strongly supports Chinese companies in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests,” the embassy told CNN in an email.