The Third Oral Criminal Court (TOP) of Santiago extended the oral trial of the SQM case – a scandal linked to the irregular financing of politics – for February 13. This, because the opening order of the Eighth Guarantee Court of Santiago did not arrive.
The document was entrusted to a judge who is on vacation. Given this situation, the court decided to extend the start of the oral trial, which was to begin this Wednesday.
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The SQM case was uncovered in 2015 as an edge of the Penta case. During the case, the Prosecutor’s Office investigated 180 people. However, most have been dismissed or the Public Ministry decided not to persevere. It has also suspended proceedings under conditions. In this way, there are only eight defendants facing the audience.
There have been 10 convictions in the SQM case.
Longueira and ME-O among defendants
Among the accused is the former UDI senator Pablo Longueira and the former presidential candidate of PRO, Marco Enriquez-Ominami. The first risks 818 days in prison and fines for bribery. Meanwhile, the Public Ministry requested for ME-O four years in prison for tax offenses.
In addition to Longueira and ME-O, the defendants are the former general manager of SQM Patricio Contesse; Longueira’s secretary, carmen valdivieso; the ex-deputy Roberto Leon; the secretary of the UDI presidency, Marisol Cavieres; the former general secretary of the PRO, Christian Warnerand the former ambassador Macelo Rozas.
