Rule of Law

Key Facts

—The request. On 8 July, day 29 of the trial, prosecutors asked Ecuador’s national court for six years and six months against 20 of the 21 defendants.

—The accused. Former president Lenín Moreno, his wife Rocío González, his daughter Irina, and Cai Runguo, then China’s ambassador to Ecuador.

—The sum. Prosecutors allege Sinohydro paid $76.1m in bribes between 2010 and 2018, roughly 4% of a contract awarded at $1.98bn.