An Ecuadorian court has handed former Vice President Jorge Glas a new 13-year prison sentence for misusing public funds intended for earthquake recovery, extending his incarceration until 2041.
Glas, 55, is already serving time for two previous corruption convictions and had been due for release in under three years. However, Monday’s ruling — which imposed the maximum sentence — significantly lengthens his prison term.
The case centered on allegations that Glas diverted funds earmarked for rebuilding coastal regions devastated by the 2016 earthquake, which killed nearly 700 people in the provinces of Manabí and Esmeraldas. According to the court, millions in taxpayer dollars were not used for reconstruction as intended — with some funds going toward projects like a bridge far from the disaster zone.
Carlos Bernal, a former reconstruction official, also received a 13-year sentence.
Glas, who served as vice president under left-wing leader Rafael Correa, was arrested after Ecuadorian authorities stormed Mexico’s embassy in Quito last year, where he had sought asylum. The dramatic embassy raid caused a diplomatic rift between Ecuador and Mexico, prompting Mexico to lodge a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Mexico accuses Ecuador of violating international law, while Ecuador claims Mexico acted improperly by offering Glas asylum.
Glas maintains he had no direct control over the reconstruction funds or related contracts, arguing there’s no evidence he misused money for personal or third-party gain. He has long claimed to be a victim of political persecution.
Supporters Denounce Verdict
The ruling has sparked backlash from Glas’s supporters. Sacha Llorenti, coordinator of the International Committee for the Freedom of Jorge Glas, condemned the sentence as “outrageous and abhorrent,” calling it a politically motivated decision lacking evidence.
Outside the courthouse, Glas’s lawyer Andrés Villegas claimed the verdict “buried the dignity” of Ecuador’s justice system. Meanwhile, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry called on Ecuador to take necessary humanitarian steps to ensure Glas’s safety, reaffirming Mexico’s commitment to asylum protections under international law.
Ongoing Corruption Scandals
Glas’s legal troubles began in 2017, when he was ousted from office by then-President Lenín Moreno. That same year, he was convicted and sentenced to six years for his involvement in a corruption scheme linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, described as one of Latin America’s largest-ever bribery scandals.
In 2020, he received an additional eight-year sentence for a separate bribery case involving public contracts from 2012 to 2016.
In 2022, a judge ordered his release on safety grounds. Shortly afterward, Glas took refuge in Mexico’s Quito embassy — a move that culminated in the controversial raid that led to his latest arrest and now, a fresh sentence.
