Former Ecuadorian President Abdala Bucaram has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for his role in a criminal network that fraudulently sold medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bucaram, 74, served as Ecuador’s president from August 1996 until February 1997. Under Ecuadorian law, he could be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest because of his age.

His son, Jacobo Bucaram, was also convicted and handed the same nine-year, four-month sentence.

Prosecutors said the defendants operated an organised criminal structure that deliberately carried out illegal activities linked to the sale of medical supplies.

The case centred on the procurement of about 21,000 rapid COVID-19 test kits and other medical equipment between March and August 2020.

At the time, Ecuador was battling one of Latin America’s most severe coronavirus outbreaks.

A former traffic police officer involved in the case received a 13-year, four-month sentence, while an Israeli national was sentenced to two years and eight months after cooperating with investigators.

Bucaram, who has ongoing heart problems, followed the court proceedings through a video link from a hospital in Guayaquil, where he lives.

Investigators alleged that traffic police officers provided security escorts for two foreign nationals transporting medical supplies to Bucaram’s residence.

Prosecutors said members of the group posed as diplomatic officials or agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) while carrying out the scheme.

One of the foreign suspects, identified as Shy D, was killed inside a Guayaquil prison in August 2020, shortly after providing testimony to investigators.

Bucaram’s legal team has yet to publicly respond to the verdict. The former president retains the right to appeal the sentence.