A former Ecuadorian leader has been found guilty of taking bribes and sentenced to five years in prison.

Lenín Moreno, who was president between 2017 and 2021, will serve his sentence under house arrest due to his age and disability, according to court officials in Quito.

The Overview & Context

The 73-year-old has already indicated his intention to appeal against the verdict after a court found him and 19 others guilty of corruption in connection with the construction of a hydroelectric plant in the Latin American nation.

Prosecutors alleged that Sinohydro, a Chinese firm involved in the project, had secured the contract through shell companies linked to people involved in the deal.

Among those convicted of bribery were Moreno's wife, daughter, and brother, as well as former plant managers and Sinohydro representatives.

Moreno Overview & Context

Moreno denied involvement in the alleged bribery scheme and blamed another former president, Rafael Correa, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in a separate case in 2020.

The court's decision marks the third time a former Ecuadorian leader has been sentenced for corruption, following similar convictions of former presidents Rafael Correa and Rafael Araujo.

Those convicted of bribery will have to repay three times what they were given, while Moreno was barred from public office.

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The case highlights concerns about corruption in the construction industry and the lack of transparency in the awarding of government contracts.

The Ecuadorian government launched legal proceedings against Sinohydro in 2021 due to cracks appearing in the dam and other technical failures. It reached a $400m settlement with the firm's owner earlier this year.

Moreno's conviction has sparked an outpouring of support from his supporters, who claim he is innocent and that the trial was unfair.

The BBC has approached Sinohydro and the Chinese embassy in Ecuador for comment on the conviction of their representatives.

A former president of Ecuador has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of taking bribes.

Lenín Moreno insisted he had not taken money from a Chinese firm which secured a contract to build a hydroelectric plant in the Latin American nation.

The 73-year-old will serve his sentence under house arrest due to his age and disability, and has already indicated his intention to appeal against the verdict after a court in the capital, Quito, found him and 19 others guilty of corruption.