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Lenín Moreno Sentenced to Five Years for Sinohydro Bribery

8/30/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Former President Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery.
The case involves $76.1 million in bribes from state-owned Sinohydro for the Coca Codo Sinclair dam.
Prosecutors allege Moreno intervened to secure the Sinohydro contract.
He will serve the term under house arrest because of age and disability.
Prosecutors ordered Moreno and co-defendants to repay triple the illicit sums within 90 days.

History

Historical Context

In June 2005 deputy Roberto Jefferson exposed that the Workers’ Party paid deputies 30,000 reais monthly to buy votes, igniting the Mensalão scandal that endangered President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government. The case followed earlier early-2000s corruption schemes, such as the 2002 Rio de Janeiro state-utility scandal, and led to mass resignations, Lula’s 2006 re-election and reforms tightening Brazil’s procurement rules.

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Story summary

Former President Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery.
The case involves $76.1 million in bribes from state-owned Sinohydro for the Coca Codo Sinclair dam.
Prosecutors allege Moreno intervened to secure the Sinohydro contract.
He will serve the term under house arrest because of age and disability.
Prosecutors ordered Moreno and co-defendants to repay triple the illicit sums within 90 days.

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