Ecuadorean Judge Calls Former President Correa To Trial

On Wednesday, Ecuadorean Judge Daniella Camacho announced that former President Rafael Correa, former intelligence agents Raul Chicaiza, Diana Falcon, and former Minister of the National Intelligence Secretary (Senain) Pablo Romero will stand trial for the alleged kidnapping of Fernando Balda; however, this stage of judgement has been suspended for reasons that all the defendants are outside of the country.

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Ecuadorean Ex-President Correa Denounces Political Persecution

The hearing led by Judge Camacho started Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., and was meant to decide if former President Correa would or wouldn't be called to trial for the alleged kidnapping of former assembly member Fernando Balda.

Before the trial, President Correa tweeted: "Do not worry about me. At the international level they are becoming ridiculous, and, although late, international justice will come."

On Sept. 18, Correa's international lawyer Cristophe Marchand explained to local media that Interpol had suspended Ecuador's extradition request against his client because of "institutional problems." Marchand said in reference to the transitory Participation Council which is “placing pressure on the judges overseeing the case.”

In July an Ecuadorean judge requested that Interpol issue a red notice for the imprisonment and extradition of the former president in relation to the case of an alleged kidnapping of a former opposition legislator, Fernando Balda. According to Correa’s Ecuadorean lawyer, Caupolican Ochoa, there is no evidence against Correa.

Correa, for his part, has denounced the political prosecution against him and his supporters in Ecuador specifically, and comments on the broader context of the whole Latin American region. "What has happened here is merely political, to avoid Correa's participation in Politics, and mainly in the 2019 campaign," Correa stated.