The United States imposed sanctions on former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and his vice president Jorge Glas for corruption.

The United States Department of State has announced rafael koreaFormer President of Ecuador, and george glassFormer Vice President, ineligible to enter United States territory due to participation in acts of corruption during his public administration. Official statements indicate that both accepted bribes, including political contributions, in exchange for being awarded favorable government contracts. For this, both Correa and Glass were sentenced in the Ecuadorian justice system.

In a statement, United States Ambassador to Ecuador Art Brown indicated that Direct relatives of Korea and Glass: “The Department also declares Correa’s wife, Anne Malherbe Gosselin, and his adult children, Sophia Correa, Anne Dominic Correa, and Rafael Miguel Correa, ineligible for entry into the United States. Additionally, the Department also declares Glaswegian’s wife, Cynthia Diaz Aveiga, and his adult son, George Glaswegian Diaz, ineligible for entry into the United States.”

Rafael Correa was sentenced in 2020 in the 2012-2016 bribery case. The conviction indicated that Correa was direct perpetrator of serious briberyThe investigation revealed that irregular contributions were made through cash or cross-billing by state contractors for the benefit of the ruling party, which were received by senior officials of the government headed by Correa. In that investigation, Glass and other figures of the civil revolution were also sentenced, such as María de los Ángeles Duarte, who escaped justice after leaving the Argentine embassy in Quito.

For bribery case, Correa must serve eight years in prison. Before his sentencing, the former president fled the country and settled in Belgium where he lives as a refugee. Since the crime of bribery is not prescribed, Correa cannot return to Ecuador, as he would be arrested if he entered national territory. Glass was also sentenced to eight years in prison.

The former Vice President was sentenced to six years in jail in another adultery case. As determined by justice, Glass received US$13.5 million in bribes from Odebrecht To award them contracts between 2010 and 2012. Glass was sentenced to 8 years in prison for the crime of embezzlement in two of the three cases that exist in the Ecuadorian justice system, in the Singue case, an oil block whose reward, according to the version of the prosecutor’s office, brought “millions of dollars to the state. Caused damage.” Glass was a member of the hydrocarbon tender committee that was in charge of negotiations. However, on November 10, 2022, a court of the National Court of Justice annulled whatever action was taken in relation to the case, as due process was not followed.

Currently, Glass, who is being held in the maximum security La Roca prison, is being investigated on charges of embezzlement of funds and racketeering. The former vice president returned to jail after being caught inside the Mexican Embassy in Quito in April this year. The crackdown by law enforcement forces on the orders of President Daniel Noboa led to the rupture of relations with Mexico and a mutual trial before the International Court of Justice.

Statements from the United States government indicate that the measure is part of that country’s support for Ecuador’s efforts to promote transparency in government and combat corruption. The US government highlighted the roles of civil society, law enforcement, and Ecuadorian journalists in this fight against corruptionFurthermore, they reaffirmed their commitment to combating global corruption, especially at the highest levels of power.