Former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram has rejected his conviction in a COVID-19 medical supplies case, insisting, “I swear I am innocent,” as he vowed to appeal the almost decade-long prison sentence handed to him and his son, Jacobo. Speaking at his home in Guayaquil on Thursday, Bucaram challenged the court’s findings and accused one of the judges of lacking impartiality, stating he would continue fighting to overturn the verdict.
The case dates back to the height of Ecuador’s COVID-19 crisis in 2020, when prosecutors accused Bucaram, his son and others of being involved in the irregular commercialisation of about 21,000 rapid COVID-19 tests and other medical supplies, including masks and lancets.
According to prosecutors, the supplies were moved under the custody of Quito traffic officials to Bucaram’s home before being distributed and sold in several provinces without invoices or payment of taxes. The court ultimately found Bucaram and his son guilty as collaborators in organised criminal activity and sentenced both to nine years and four months in prison.
Bucaram, however, has consistently denied wrongdoing, arguing that the transactions were private commercial agreements and did not constitute a crime. Following the verdict, he also questioned the impartiality of the judge who presided over the case, saying he would seek to have the proceedings annulled. The conviction is subject to appeal, meaning the latest ruling does not necessarily bring the legal battle to an end.
For now, Bucaram’s next step is an appeal as he continues to challenge both the conviction and the conduct of the judicial process. The 74-year-old former president, who led Ecuador from 1996 until his removal from office in 1997, maintains that no crime was committed and says he will fight to clear his name. Whether the conviction stands will now depend on the outcome of the appeals process.
