Latacunga (AP) – Former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, convicted of corruption, has been released early from prison.
The 52-year-old emerged from a prison in the city of Latacunga on Sunday after around four and a half years in prison, posing in front of dozens of cheering supporters holding an Ecuadorian flag, according to local media. On Saturday, a judge ordered Glas’s release, saying his physical and mental integrity was at risk.
Glas’ lawyer Édison Loaiza told journalists that in addition to his health problems, the application also referred to the fact that Glas had been moved to an undisclosed location several times because of bloody riots in the prison. In the often overcrowded and gang-controlled prisons of the South American country, violence and many deaths occur again and again.
Glas was Vice President of Ecuador during the second term of office of President Rafael Correa (2013-2017) and at the beginning of the term of office of his successor Lenín Moreno (2017-2021). At the end of 2017, he was found guilty of accepting a bribe in exchange for awarding public contracts to the Brazilian company Odebrecht to build oil infrastructure projects. He was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison in the case and in two other corruption cases. The presidency of the current incumbent Guillermo Lasso announced that it would appeal against Glas’ release.
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