Ecuadorean prosecutors on Sunday filed bribery charges against former president Lenín Moreno over a contract for a Chinese-built hydroelectric plant.
Diana Salazar Méndez, Ecuador’s attorney-general, said Moreno and 36 other people have been charged with allegedly obtaining $76mn from Sinohydro, builder of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydro dam project.
Salazar said her office has sought to freeze assets in Switzerland, Spain, China, Panama, Paraguay, the US and Belize in connection with the charges.
The dam, 100km east of Quito, began operations in 2016 after six years of construction.
Moreno has previously denied wrongdoing. Those charged on Sunday include members of the ex-president’s family.
