They declare Glas’ detention illegal, but he will remain imprisoned in Ecuador

Quito. The court of the National Court of Justice of Ecuador that analyzed the habeas corpus of former Vice President Jorge Glas determined today that his detention in the Mexican embassy was arbitrary and illegal; however, he will continue to be imprisoned.

In the ruling, the court headed by Judge Mónica Heredia indicated that the arrest of the former vice president at the diplomatic headquarters occurred without a search warrant, making it an illegal detention, which is not justified by the decree of internal armed conflict. .

“It is arbitrary,” stressed the magistrate, who immediately specified that he would still not be released from prison because two final sentences weigh on him.

Regarding the asylum, granted by Mexico, the court indicated that it is not up to it to rule, but rather to the diplomatic authorities.

At the hearing, which resumed on Friday afternoon, Glas told how he was captured inside the embassy and the physical attacks he suffered.

The former official, who is on a hunger strike and appeared at the session online from prison, asked the court to return his asylum status, while representatives of the Government spoke out against that possibility due to the sentences against him.

Defense will present new legal resources

Marcelo Orellana, one of the former vice president’s lawyers, considered it a victory that the arrest was described as illegal and arbitrary and confirmed that they will appeal this decision because, despite granting him habeas corpus, justice should have restored the asylum granted by Mexico.

“Let Ecuador know about the arbitrary action against a former vice president,” said Orellana as he left the National Court of Justice, where dozens of supporters of the politician, who is being held in the La Roca maximum security prison, gathered.

The lawyer specified that his client has already served more than 60 percent of the unified eight-year sentence behind bars for the Odebrecht and Bribery cases and has not been able to benefit from pre-release as he should.

Today the Ecuadorian justice system repairs and cleans the face of the arbitrary actions against the former vice president, said the lawyer on behalf of the defense team.