MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Former Ecuadorean President Correa ordered to stand trial on kidnapping charges

Rafael Correa lives in Belgium since 2017.

Ecuadorean Judge Daniela Camacho Thursday ruled that former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017) is to stand trial for his alleged inolvement in the kidnapping of politician Fernando Balda in 2012 in Bogotá.

Correa's situation worsened when two former intelligence operatives testified that they had received the order to go ahead with the kidnapping straight from the then president.

There is a preemptive arrest warrant out on Correa, who lives in Belgium since he left the presidency.

In September state Attorney g
General, Paúl Pérez, charged Correa former Intelligence Secretary Pablo Romero, and the two agents with conspiracy and kidnapping.

Correa has denied the accusations against him and has assured that there is “false testimony, forged evidence and blackmail” in the Balda case. According to the Prosecutor's Office, there are 28 pieces of evidence that link Correa to the case.

President Lenin Moreno has described the case as “a slang without substance that overlaps corrupt attitudes” and has urged the ex-president to return to the country to defend himself.