Former president Moreno and his family will stand trial for bribery in Sinohydro case

A National Court judge has ordered former President Lenín Moreno to trial on charges that he masterminded a multi-million-dollar bribery scheme with Chinese contractor Sinohydro. The former president’s wife Rocío González, his daughter Irina Moreno González, and his brother Guillermo and Edwin Moreno will also stand trial.

Former president Lenin Moreno at his home in Asunción, Paraguay.

Judge Olavo Hernández cited strong evidence that Moreno was “the direct author” of the crime of bribery, negotiating with Sinohydro to receive the construction contract for the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project.

In addition to the five members of Moreno’s family, Hernández named 16 others, including three Chineses officers of Sinohydro, who face criminal charges.

According to prosecutors, the alleged bribery was committed between 2010 and 2016, during the government of President Rafael Correa. Prosecutors claim they can track the movement of $76 million in bribes and have called 24 people to testify in preparatory hearings this week in Quito.

Hernández ordered Moreno, his wife and daughter to report monthly to the Ecuadorian embassy in Asunción, Paraguay, where Moreno currently lives. Once a trial date is set, the three will receive orders to return to Ecuador.

In his order, Hernández claimed prosecutors showed “convincing evidence” that, in addition to other bribe payments, Moreno and wife received $547,000 for expediting delivery of the contract to Sinohydro. “According to the evidence, this payment was used by the Morenos to purchase condominiums in Alicante, Spain, and Quito, as well as jewelry and furniture,” Hernández said.

The judge also presented evidence that Moreno personally oversaw the processing of the $1.6 billion Chinese loan that financed the Coca Codo Sinclair project, violating standard procedure for loans from foreign banks. Sinohydro has admitted paying bribes before and during construction work and prosecutors say Moreno and presidential aid Conto Patiño received a large share of the bribes.

Moreno’s attorneys claim the charges against the former president are “fabrications by the real bribe-takers” and by Sinohydro officials looking to avoid prosecution in China. They also claim that “Correista judges” are persecuting the former president for breaking relations with Correa.