Ecuador's vice president, Jorge Glas, was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for receiving illegal kickbacks from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

He is the highest-ranking politician to be convicted in the sprawling case centered on Odebrecht, whose practice of giving bribes to secure public works contracts has cast a cloud over officials and ex-officials in several Latin American countries.

Glas, 48, had been in preventive custody since October. His trial before Ecuador's Supreme Court started last month. 

Prosecutors said he received a total of $13.5 million in Odebrecht bribes, via an uncle who is also under arrest.

Source:AFP