Falconpowers – Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa stated that Jorge Glas, who served as his vice president and is currently detained after the Mexican embassy was stormed, attempted suicide while on a hunger strike.
Correa wrote on his Twitter account, “Finally, Jorge Glas’ children and their lawyers were able to communicate with him through the Zoom application, and we confirmed that the emergency medical condition (which led to his hospitalization) was a suicide attempt… He is not eating anything and is on a hunger strike.” He added, “We hold President Daniel Nuboa responsible for Jorge’s physical and mental well-being, and I remind Nuboa that he has committed a clear crime under Article 125 of the Criminal Law.”
Glas (54 years old) was taken to the hospital on Monday after refusing to eat for 24 hours while being held in a high-security prison in Guayaquil, according to officials. He was transferred to this prison after his arrest last Friday.
According to prison authorities, Glas was returned to his cell on Tuesday after his health returned to “acceptable standards.”
On Friday night, Ecuadorian security forces raided the Mexican embassy in an operation that sparked a diplomatic crisis in order to arrest Glas, who had sought refuge there.
Glas, who had previously served a prison sentence on corruption charges, is wanted on an arrest warrant for embezzlement of public funds designated for the reconstruction of cities after a devastating earthquake in 2016.
Mexico, which severed diplomatic relations and withdrew its embassy staff from Ecuador, has stated its intention to refer the case of the embassy breach to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Jorge Glas served as vice president between 2013 and 2017 during the presidency of socialist Rafael Correa (2007-2017).