Ecuador: former vice president sentenced to one year in prison

Quito, Jan 31 (Prensa Latina) The National Court of Justice of Ecuador on Friday handed over an attenuated one-year prison sentence to former Vice President Maria Alejandra Vicuña for the crime of extortion.

The State General Prosecutor's Office presented evidence of Vicuña's abuse of power while she was a national lawmaker (2011-2016), when she demanded and accepted funds from her former advisors in return for labor stability.

Although the crime can be punished with four years in prison, the court ruled a 12-month sentence, plus a compensation of 173,180 dollars.

As part of the sentence, the court established the confiscation of an immovable asset in Samborondon, as well as the publication of the ruling in three national newspapers.

Among the evidence against the ex-vice president was the testimony under oath of her former advisor, Angel Sagbay, who assured that he was forced to make monthly payments from his salary in order to keep his job.

Two other members of Vicuña's legislative team admitted having paid, but they noted that they did so voluntarily.