media site. He was accused of several crimes including stealing from the Central bank and from Customs and mismanaging the COVID-19 pandemic and barred from entering the United States. After he took office, Bucaram tried to reorganize the state which led to a culture of bribery and favoritism. Impeachment In February 1997, Bucaram was impeached by the National Congress because of concerns about his capacity to act in the office of presidency. Life after impeachment Bucaram received political asylum in Panama after several corruption charges were laid against him. He returned on Saturday, 2 April 2005, after the corruption charges were lifted the previous day. He stayed in Guayaquil for about two and a half weeks. The corruption charges against him were reinstated after Lucio Gutiérrez was forced to leave to avoid the charges. On December 1, 2014, Bucaram's son Abdalá "Dalo" Bucarám Jr. renounced his seat in the Ecuadorian National Assembly. On 4 June 2020, Attorney General Diana Salazar Méndez announced that a stock of 5,000 masks and 2,000 COVID-19 tests had been found at Bucaram's residence preventing their use in combatting a large outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, Bucaram was arrested and released at his home in Guayaquil as part of an organized crime investigation. The investigation centered on the murder of an Israeli citizen, Tomer Sheinman (also known as Shy Dahan), a few days earlier in the Guayaquil jail. Bucaram was implicated because an audio conversation between Bucaram and the murdered Sheinman (Dahan) was found. Sheinman (Dahan) was involved in trading medical supplies with Bucaram's son, Jacobo. On 9 March 2022, the United States announced that Bucaram "due to his involvement in significant corruption, including misappropriation of public funds, accepting bribes, and interfering with public processes" would be barred from entering the country. References External links Abdalá Bucaram - YouTube Caida de Abdala Bucaram 5 de Febrero de 1997 AUGE Y CAÍDA DE BUCARAM, EN RESUMEN CORRUPCIÓN EN ECUADOR: ¡PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR! Extended biography (in Spanish) by CIDOB Foundation Official Website of the Ecuadorian Government about the country President's History Dalo y Gaby Asambleistas, PRE la nueva Era Biography by CIDOB (in Spanish) |- |- |- 1952 births Living people Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes of Ecuador Mayors of Guayaquil Presidents of Ecuador Ecuadorian male hurdlers Ecuadorian police chiefs Ecuadorian sportsperson-politicians Leaders ousted by a coup 20th-century Ecuadorian lawyers