Moreno Will Go to Jail for Corruption: Ex-President Correa

Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno will “go to jail” on corruption charges, his predecessor Rafael Correa said Wednesday in an interview with EFE as allegations continue to mount against the current administration.

RELATED: 

Former Ecuadorean Leader Rips Current Administration As 'Toxic'

"It is the corrupt fighting corruption," the former official said, claiming to have proof of flights, cash, lavish clothing, as well as a luxury apartment in Spain belonging to members of the Moreno family.

Since the release of an investigative journalistic report on Feb. 19, Lenin has fallen further in public perception, while counter-political movements are calling for a government probe into the alleged “labyrinth of offshore companies” belonging to the president and his family.

"I can assure you that Moreno will have to leave the Presidency and go to jail because this is a monstrosity that they will not be able to hide," Correa said from Brussels.

"It is the corrupt fighting corruption," the former official said.

Lenin Moreno and his brother Edwin allegedly opened accounts in tax havens like Panama and Belize and opaque companies to avoid declaring deposits from Chinese or English companies "funds from state contractors, corruption funds, fraud to the treasury, commissions that should not have been paid," Correa said.

During a national address Tuesday, Moreno swore he “does not have, nor has ever had ‘offshore’ accounts” as he does not plan to leave the country.

President Lenin Moreno stated, through the Communications Secretary, that he has "decided to summon the world community to create an International Commission Against Corruption, which I referred to during the electoral campaign." In response to the information about the president's brother involved on the offshore company, the anti-corruption Secretary Ivan Granda stated that the people involved should respond and that President Moreno ""Does not put himself on the line for anyone."

Correa urged the Assembly to take legal action against the incumbent leader. The ex-head of state noted that despite the glaring lack of evidence, he is forced into exile and has been politically blocked from returning to his home country. However, mountains of investigative reports and allegations pile up before the court and Moreno continues to rule.

“There must also be political decisions, the Assembly has to move," he said.

Correa was president of Ecuador from 2007 to 2017 and was responsible for the country’s “pink tide” movement to left-wing policies which saw poverty decrease by 14% and an annual GDP growth of 1.5%.