In Ecuador, justice confirmed Monday, September 7 in cassation the sentence of ex-President Rafael Correa to eight years in prison for corruption, putting an end to his hopes of running for the country's vice-presidency in the elections next February .
A Supreme Court tribunal has, "by a majority (...) rejected the appeals in cassation lodged by the appellants and upholds the sentence for corruption" pronounced in April against the former president (2007-2017) and 17 others people, including ex-ministers and business leaders, the court said.
Rafael Correa has lived in Belgium since 2017 and the end of his last term when he was not yet the subject of any trial.
Tried in absentia, his first conviction in April was confirmed in mid-July on appeal.
He announced in mid-August his wish to run for the vice-presidency of Ecuador within a left-wing coalition.
Bribes
"They finally did. In record time, they obtained a 'final' sentence to disqualify me as a candidate," Rafael Correa said on social media.
"They don't understand that all they do is increase my popular support. I'm fine. Remember, the only thing they condemn us to do is win," he said. -he adds.
Finally lo lograron.
In tiempo record sacan sentencia “definitiva” para inhabilitarme como candidato
No entienden que lo único que hacen es aumentar el apoyo popular
Yo estaré bien.
Denle toda la solidaridad a perseguidos allá
Recuerden: a lo único que nos condenan es a vencer pic.twitter.com/3XKCPBh3Bi
- Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) September 7, 2020
After a last resort that the defense can still file, the former president will be banned for life from appearing before the electorate, as established by the country's Constitution in cases of corruption.
The Court of Justice ruled that Rafael Correa and several of his former collaborators had indeed received bribes in exchange for contracts with various companies.
The former president says he is innocent and denounces a plot fomented by his rival, his former vice-president and current president, Lenin Moreno.
Rafael Correa is also under investigation for the 2012 kidnapping in Colombia of opposition leader Fernando Balda.
According to Ecuadorian law, however, he cannot be tried in absentia for this crime.
With AFP
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