Ecuadorean court denies Glas’ appeal

An Ecuadorean court in Guayas denied on Monday the habeas corpus appeal in favor of former Vice President Jorge Glas, and determined he will remain in a top security prison.

The appeal had been filed by Glas’ attorneys, who at first requested changing his prison sentence for house arrest at his mother’s. Then, they gave up such option, and asked the Court to transfer Glas to prison 4, in the north of Quito.

Glas’s defense alleged that inside La Roca prison, where the former official is being held, he has not received adequate medical attention for his physical and psychological ailments.

However, according to the technical report of the Ministry of Public Health, Glas has been medically treated 79 times in prison, from April 6 to July 2, 2024.

Internal medicine doctor Alejandro Barreto warned last week that as long as he remains behind bars his health will continue to deteriorate.

On August 6, the Ecuadorean Government reiterated that granting of diplomatic asylum to Glas is “not lawful” and accordingly he will be not benefitted with a safe-conduct to leave the country.

The executive power’s announcement comes one day after the Mexican Government, through its Secretary of Foreign Affairs, requested permission for Glas to be handed over and transferred to a third country, in accordance with Article 19th of the Caracas Convention.