Court sentences former President Rafael C. to 8 years in prison in Bribes case

The Criminal Court composed of Judges Iván León, Iván Saquicela and Marco Rodríguez, sentenced former President of the Republic Rafael C. and former Vice President Jorge G. to 8 years in prison as mediated perpetrators for instigating the crime of bribery in the so-called Bribery case 2012-2016, for which 21 people were processed.

The judges who were located on the eighth floor of the National Court of Justice (CNJ), via telematics, reported from there the resolution they have taken regarding the 21 prosecuted for this cause .

Unanimously, the Court sentenced Rafael C. to 8 years in prison as a perpetrator of aggravated bribery . The same sentence was passed against former Vice President Jorge G. In addition, both lose their political rights for 25 years .

In reading its analysis of the case, the Court considered that the ex-president did know of the “improper contributions” .

Regarding Alexis M. , the Court indicated that he played a determining role in the corruption structure , since “he had broad decision-making power and directly benefited from $ 65,000 and for this reason he has the capacity of direct co-author”.

The same sentence was issued as co-authors to former ministers Vinicio A .; María de los Ángeles D. and Walter S .; the former Legal Secretary of the Presidency, Alexis M .; Assemblywoman Viviana B .; and former legislator Christian V.

Likewise, eight years in prison in their capacity as direct authors to businessmen; Alberto H .; Bolívar S .; Edgar S .; Victor F .; Ramiro G .; William Ph. C .; Rafael Leonardo C .; Teodoro C .; Pedro V .; and Mateo Ch.

While for the former presidential adviser Pamela M. for her collaboration to clarify the case, she was sentenced to 38 months and 12 days in prison. And for the former presidential assistant Laura T. 19 months and 6 days as an accomplice.

For the defendant Jamil M., the judges accepted the request of the Prosecutor’s Office and refrained from sentencing him, so he was released from guilt.

The resolution of the sentence was read at noon on Tuesday April 7 from the courtroom of the National Court of Justice (CNJ)

The lawyers of the accused were distributed in three rooms of the CNJ and in one of the Provincial Court of Justice of Guayas to hear the resolution.

Upon entering the judicial offices, the lawyers were subjected to health control in the face of the emergency that the country is experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic .

The audience was reserved and without an audience . (I)