Lenín Moreno to Stand Trial Over Alleged $76M Bribe Scheme Involving Coca Codo Sinclair

Former Ecuadorian president Lenín Moreno will face trial on bribery charges tied to the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric complex — the country's largest power plant — which was built by the Chinese state-owned firm Sinohydro. Prosecutors allege nearly $76 million in bribe payments were made between 2009 and 2018, a period that spans Moreno's time as vice president under Rafael Correa and his later presidency.

Allegations and Accusations

According to court filings cited by local media, Moreno and members of his family allegedly received more than $1 million in illicit payments. The Coca Codo Sinclair project, a flagship of the Correa administration, cost roughly $2 billion and has long been under scrutiny for structural problems and corruption allegations.

Defendants And Legal Context

The trial will include Moreno and 24 additional defendants, among them relatives, associates and business figures from Ecuador and abroad. Moreno, who currently resides in Paraguay, has denied the accusations. In a video posted on social media he said authorities "have not been able to prove that I received a single cent" and described the investigation as a political "vendetta" by allies of Rafael Correa.

"They have not been able to prove that I received a single cent," Moreno said, calling the case politically motivated.

Broader Pattern Among Former Presidents

Moreno becomes the fifth former Ecuadorian president to face criminal proceedings in recent decades, a pattern commentators say highlights persistent concerns about corruption at the highest levels since Ecuador's return to democracy. Previous high-profile cases include:

• Abdalá Bucaram: Accused in 1997 of irregular contracts related to school supplies and confidential spending; those cases expired in 2017.
• Jamil Mahuad: Convicted in 2014 for misuse of public funds; appeals continued and a final cassation request was rejected in 2020. Mahuad now lives in the United States and works in academia and consulting.
• Gustavo Noboa: Faced allegations tied to debt renegotiation and financial irregularities but was ultimately cleared and granted amnesty by the Constituent Assembly in 2008.
• Rafael Correa: Convicted in 2020 of aggravated bribery in a scheme involving payments for public contracts; he lives in Belgium, where his legal team has said he holds refugee status.

The case against Moreno centers on alleged bribery and irregular payments linked to one of Ecuador's largest infrastructure projects. Legal proceedings are ongoing, and charges remain allegations until adjudicated in court.