Rafael Correa under scrutiny: the 2020 sentence nobody enforces, the trial suspended since 2018 and the three 2026 investigations without charges

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Updated: 11 de October, 2026Last verified: 11 de October, 2026

Rafael Correa Delgado governed Ecuador between 2007 and 2017 and has lived in Belgium since leaving power. His legal situation is the most puzzling in this series: he has a final eight-year sentence of which he has not served a single day, a kidnapping trial that has been suspended for eight years, an international ruling that condemns the State over a lawsuit he filed, and three investigations opened in 2025 and 2026 in which nobody has charged him. This piece orders those decisions by date and explains, for each one, which body decided and what remains pending. The analysis by fronts is at Auditoría Abierta: Rafael Correa under audit.

Who Rafael Correa is and why his case matters in October 2026

Correa was the longest-serving president of Ecuador’s recent democratic era, a decade with Alianza País. From Belgium he remains the leader of the opposition, now grouped as Revolución Ciudadana. His case matters in October 2026 because of two calendars that intersect. The judicial one: the 2020 sentence remains unenforced and the Balda trial has not resumed. The electoral one: his party is suspended until December and the local elections are on 29 November. Whatever happens with the Caja Chica case in the coming weeks affects both. For the month-by-month follow-up, Foco Rojo publishes Rafael Correa, updates on the case in 2026.

Timeline of the Correa case, decision by decision

DateDecisionBodyStatus
20 July 20113 years in prison and US$40 million against El Universo over Correa’s lawsuitGuayaquil judgePardoned by Correa in February 2012; annulled by the Inter-American Court
7 November 2018Committal to trial over the kidnapping of Fernando BaldaJudge Daniella Camacho, National CourtTrial suspended
7 April 20208 years for aggravated bribery (Sobornos 2012-2016) and 25-year banCriminal Tribunal, National CourtFinal, not enforced
20 July 2020Conviction upheldNational Court of JusticeFinal
13 August 20209 years for Pablo Romero as indirect perpetrator of Balda’s kidnappingNational Court tribunalFinal (against a third party)
December 2021Ecuador violated freedom of expression in the El Universo caseInter-American CourtFinal
28 January 2026Raids and list of eight suspects in Caja ChicaAttorney General’s OfficeConfidential preliminary investigation, no charges
March 2026Nine-month suspension of Revolución CiudadanaElectoral Disputes TribunalIn force
22 June 2026Espionage complaint over Segura EP camerasMinistry of Government before prosecutorsUnder investigation, no charges
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2011-2012: the lawsuit against El Universo

It all starts with an article. On 6 February 2011, columnist Emilio Palacio published «No to lies» in El Universo, critical of Correa’s handling of the police revolt of 30 September 2010. On 22 March 2011, Correa filed a libel suit against Palacio and three executives of the newspaper. On 20 July 2011, a judge sentenced them to three years in prison and to pay Correa 30 million dollars, plus another 10 million payable by the newspaper. On 27 February 2012, with appeals exhausted, Correa announced his «pardon» and the case was closed, according to GK. What it means: Correa won in every Ecuadorian court and waived collection; an international court would later present the bill.

2018: committal to trial over Balda’s kidnapping

In August 2012, opposition figure Fernando Balda, a refugee in Bogotá, was kidnapped for several hours, beaten and abandoned on a public road, according to Perfil. The investigation concluded that the kidnappers acted with agents of Senain, the presidential intelligence service. On 7 November 2018, judge Daniella Camacho of the National Court committed Correa and three other former officials to trial after assessing 44 items of evidence, and spoke of «a hierarchical chain of command» with Correa at the top; she also ordered his pre-trial detention, according to El Universo, Plan V and El Tiempo. According to El Universo, as of March 2025 the trial against him remained suspended. In 2025, prosecutor Consuelo Montañez was sentenced to eight years for manipulating information in the case to favour the kidnappers, according to El Universo. Correa denies the charges and calls them persecution.

2020: the bribery conviction and its confirmation

On 7 April 2020, the Criminal Tribunal of the National Court, with judges Iván León, Iván Saquicela and Marco Rodríguez, sentenced Correa to eight years in prison for aggravated bribery, according to Reuters and Yahoo. The ruling concludes that he led a hierarchical structure that received US$7.5 million in «improper contributions» at the Carondelet Palace to finance Alianza País in exchange for state contracts, including with Odebrecht, according to the World Compliance Association. Jorge Glas and 18 others were convicted in the same case, according to CNN Chile. On 20 July 2020, after two weeks of deliberation, the Court upheld the conviction and rejected most appeals, according to France 24. The sentence includes a 25-year ban from public office, according to El Heraldo. What it means: Correa cannot be a candidate in Ecuador until 2045.

2020: the conviction of his intelligence chief

On 13 August 2020, a National Court tribunal unanimously sentenced Pablo Romero, former National Secretary of Intelligence, to nine years as indirect perpetrator of Balda’s kidnapping, according to El Universo. Two former agents, Raúl Chicaiza and Jéssica Falcón, had already been convicted in 2019 with reduced sentences for effective cooperation. Balda called Romero’s conviction «the link» connecting the kidnappers to Correa. How to read it: Romero is convicted in his own right; that ruling does not resolve Correa’s responsibility, which remains untried.

Why the sentence is not enforced

Ecuador has a final ruling and does not have the convicted man. Correa lives in Belgium, where he obtained asylum, and that country has not handed him over; the sources consulted record no extradition granted. In 2023, US senators including Bill Cassidy and Jim Risch asked the Biden administration to hold Correa accountable for these acts, according to a letter published by Cassidy’s office, with no known result. The inevitable comparison is with Jorge Glas: same conviction, same case, and Glas is serving it in prison in Ecuador.

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2021-2022: the Inter-American Court and the UN

In December 2021, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declared Ecuador internationally responsible for violating the freedom of expression and judicial guarantees of Emilio Palacio and the El Universo executives, according to Primicias, and ordered the conviction set aside and the victims compensated, according to CNN. In November 2022, the UN Human Rights Committee reached a similar conclusion regarding the sanctions of the Superintendency of Communication, according to El Universo. What it means: it is not a conviction against Correa, but against the State over an action he initiated.

2025-2026: three investigations, no charges

Caja Chica. In October 2025, following an anonymous complaint, prosecutors opened a confidential preliminary investigation into alleged money laundering: cash from Venezuela for Revolución Ciudadana’s 2023 presidential campaign. On 28 January 2026 there were raids in Pichincha and Guayas and Correa headed the list of eight suspects, alongside Luisa González and Andrés Arauz, according to Primicias. In March 2026, the Electoral Disputes Tribunal suspended the party for nine months, according to Primicias and Vistazo. As of May 2026 there were no charges.

Villavicencio. At the hearing of 3 September 2025 against the alleged masterminds of the assassination of candidate Fernando Villavicencio, prosecutors presented an FBI recording in which a hitman, later killed in prison, says the job was «for the one at the top» and identifies him with Correa, according to Expreso. The judge asked prosecutors not to engage in conjecture or turn the proceedings into a «political theatre», according to Infobae. Correa is not a defendant. In June 2026, the judge declared the proceedings valid and the case moves towards the committal to trial of the accused, according to Primicias.

Segura EP. On 22 June 2026, the Minister of Government, Nataly Morillo, filed a complaint alleging that Correa leads a political espionage network using the cameras of Segura EP, Guayaquil’s municipal security company, based on leaked audio of an alleged conversation with former police officer Rodney Rengel, according to Vistazo. Correa rejected it, according to Expreso. No charges.

What Correa says and what his accusers say

Correa maintains that the 2020 conviction is political persecution, that the Balda case is a fabrication and that the 2026 investigations seek to push his party out of the elections. Prosecutors and the National Court reply with an upheld sentence, a committal to trial based on 44 items of evidence and the final conviction of his intelligence chief. On Caja Chica, Villavicencio and Segura EP, neither side yet has a judicial document to cite: they are investigations, not accusations.

How to read this record

Three levels must be distinguished. What is final: the 2020 conviction with its 25-year ban, Romero’s conviction and the Inter-American Court ruling. What is pending: the Balda trial, called in 2018 and never resumed, and the enforcement of the sentence, which depends on Belgium. What is preliminary: Caja Chica, Villavicencio and Segura EP, which may end in charges or in dismissal. Mixing the three levels is the most common mistake when discussing Correa. For the story of the sentence Ecuador cannot enforce, Bajo Lupa Digital publishes Rafael Correa, the final sentence Ecuador cannot enforce.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does Rafael Correa have a final conviction?

Yes. On 7 April 2020, the National Court of Justice sentenced him to eight years for aggravated bribery in the Sobornos 2012-2016 case and upheld the sentence on 20 July 2020. It includes a 25-year ban from public office. It was handed down in absentia because he lives in Belgium.

Why is Correa not in prison?

Because he has lived in Belgium since 2017 and that country has not handed him over to Ecuador. The sources consulted record no extradition granted. Jorge Glas, convicted in the same case, is serving the sentence in Ecuador.

What is the Balda case?

The kidnapping for several hours of opposition figure Fernando Balda in Bogotá in August 2012, carried out with Ecuadorian intelligence agents. On 7 November 2018, judge Daniella Camacho committed Correa to trial as head of the chain of command. The trial remains suspended. His former intelligence chief, Pablo Romero, was sentenced to nine years in 2020.

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What did the Inter-American Court decide in the El Universo case?

In December 2021 it declared that Ecuador violated freedom of expression and judicial guarantees by convicting Emilio Palacio and the El Universo executives over Correa’s 2011 lawsuit. It ordered that conviction annulled and the victims compensated. It is a ruling against the State, not against Correa.

What is the Caja Chica case?

A confidential preliminary investigation into alleged money laundering opened in October 2025, on the hypothesis of cash from Venezuela for the 2023 campaign. There were raids on 28 January 2026 and Correa is one of eight suspects. As of May 2026 he faced no charges.

Can Revolución Ciudadana run in the November 2026 elections?

Not as a party. In March 2026, the Electoral Disputes Tribunal suspended it for nine months over the Caja Chica case, which leaves it out of the local elections of 29 November 2026 under its own name.

Is Correa accused over the Villavicencio assassination?

No. On 3 September 2025 prosecutors presented an FBI recording in which a hitman mentions him, but Correa is not a defendant in that case and denies any link. The judge warned prosecutors against conjecture.

What is the 2026 espionage complaint?

On 22 June 2026, Minister of Government Nataly Morillo filed a complaint with prosecutors alleging that Correa leads a political espionage network using the cameras of Segura EP, Guayaquil’s municipal security company, based on leaked audio. Correa denies it. The complaint is under investigation, with no charges.

Sources consulted

This piece records documented facts and allegations attributed to their authors. The mention of an allegation does not imply its truth, and the position of the person named is recorded in each case. Bajo Lupa offers Rafael Correa space to respond and will update the text with every development. Information verified as of 11 October 2026.

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