Bucaram under police surveillance at Guayaquil clinic awaiting sentencing
Former president Abdalá Bucaram remains in intensive care under police custody. He will be arrested upon discharge to hear the verdict in the COVID-19 Tests case.
Former Ecuadorian president in intensive care with arrest warrant in force
Former president Abdalá Bucaram remains hospitalised at Borja Clinic in northern Guayaquil under constant surveillance by the National Police's Search Division, according to extra.ec. He was admitted to the intensive care unit on the night of Wednesday, 2 September 2026.
Police custody was ordered by the Court handling the COVID-19 Tests case after the hearing where the oral verdict was to be delivered on charges of alleged organised crime was suspended for the sixth consecutive time on Thursday, 3 September.
Direct verification in the critical unit
Initially, the assigned officer could not personally confirm Bucaram's admission. The clinic's administration certified the hospitalisation through remote communication during the hearing itself.
After the suspension of proceedings, the officer was authorised to enter the hospitalisation area and directly verified that Bucaram was in the intensive care unit. The health centre's directors had previously certified this admission to Search Division officers.
Arrest upon discharge
With this verification in hand, the Court instructed the Search Division to maintain continuous surveillance at the clinic. The order establishes that at the moment the doctors authorise his discharge, Bucaram will be arrested and transferred to the judicial headquarters to hear the oral verdict.
The measure aims to guarantee his attendance at the pending proceedings. His absence on 3 September, attributed by his defence to health reasons, prevented the hearing from proceeding.
The case has accumulated multiple postponements since July 2026. The Court will resume the trial hearing once Bucaram receives medical discharge and can be brought before the court.
Source: Google News EC — Guayaquil