Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno sentenced to 5 years for corruption

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno was sentenced Friday to 5 years in prison after a court found him guilty of accepting bribes from a Chinese company in exchange for helping it secure a contract to build a hydroelectric plant.

Moreno, who was present for the reading of the verdict, is 73 years old and has a physical disability that prevents him from walking. He will serve the sentence under house arrest.

Moreno was convicted as a direct participant in the bribery scheme during his tenure as vice president under Rafael Correa. His wife and daughter, two brothers and a brother-in-law were convicted as accomplices. The wife and daughter each received 30-month sentences. All were ordered to repay triple what they received illicitly within a period of 90 days.

Moreno is the third former Ecuadorian president to be sentenced for corruption, though he was tried for crimes before reaching the presidency.

Correa was sentenced in 2020 to eight years in prison in a bribery case involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht but remains in Belgium, where he has lived for years. Former President Jamil Mahuad was also sentenced in 2014 to eight years for misuse of public funds. Another former president, Abdalá Bucaram, is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of organized crime.

Prosecutors said a corruption network operated from 2008 to 2018, collecting bribes equal to 4% of the value of the project carried out by Sinohydro. They said the money was distributed through domestic and international transactions to public officials and other beneficiaries, including Moreno.

Sinohydro began building the roughly $2 billion Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant in 2010 and handed it over to Ecuador in 2016. The project has since faced criticism over structural defects.

Moreno, a tourism entrepreneur, rose to national prominence in 2007 when he became vice president under Correa, who governed Ecuador for a decade. Moreno served until 2013, when Jorge Glas succeeded him.

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Ecuador's former President Lenin Moreno, who is charged with accepting bribes from Chinese company Sinohydro in connection with the construction of one of the country's hydroelectric power plants, arrives for a hearing accompanied by his wife, Rocio Gonzalez, at the National Court of Justice in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Ecuador's former President Lenin Moreno, who is charged with accepting bribes from Chinese company Sinohydro in connection with the construction of one of the country's hydroelectric power plants, attends a hearing accompanied by his wife, Rocio Gonzalez, center, at the National Court of Justice in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Ecuador's former President Lenin Moreno, who is charged with accepting bribes from Chinese company Sinohydro in connection with the construction of one of the country's hydroelectric power plants, attends a hearing at the National Court of Justice in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Wacha dominated Cleveland's lineup by allowing just four singles over eight innings as the Kansas City Royals stayed scorching hot with a 3-0 win on Friday night to end the Guardians' winning streak at seven games.

Wacha (8-8) was in control from his first pitch to his 103rd and cooled off the Guardians, who just returned from a 6-0 trip to Colorado and Los Angeles.

Rookie Carter Jensen hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Royals, who have won 11 of 12 and are 23-16 since the All-Star break.

Wacha, who leads the AL with 18 quality starts, walked none and struck out a season-high 10. The Guardians only got one runner past second base against the right-hander. Wacha improved to 6-1 against AL Central teams in 2026.

Steven Cruz loaded the bases in the ninth on two singles and a hit batter before retiring Angel Genao on a comebacker for his sixth save.

Clinging to a 1-0 lead, Jensen gave the Royals two huge runs in the ninth by belting his 19th homer, a shot to right off reliever Craig Yoho.

Tanner Bibee (5-14) suffered another tough loss for Cleveland. He only allowed one run in six innings, but the Guardians' offense couldn't get anything going against Wacha.

Bibee came in getting an average of just 3.17 runs of support per game — third-lowest in MLB.

After missing some early scoring chances, the Royals finally pushed across a run in the fifth inning against Bibee.

Bobby Witt Jr., whose return from the injured list earlier this month has helped fuel Kansas City's recent tear, doubled and went to third on a flyout. Salvador Perez brought him home with a hard groundout.

Royals LHP Daniel Lynch (4-4, 2.93 ERA) starts against LHP Foster Griffin (15-4, 3.19), who is 3-1 with Cleveland since coming over in a deadline trade.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Kansas City Royals' Josh Rojas (40) gestures from second base after hitting a double in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Tanner Bibee pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, left, tumbles over Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone, right, on a pick off attempt in the third inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Wacha (52) pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)