Once again, the oral trial preparation hearing was rescheduled against the former Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba, and his wife, Ana María Pinochet, charged with the crimes of embezzlement of public funds and money laundering.
The instance was set for last Thursday, July 14, but the lawyer for both defendants, Miguel Ángel Chávez, requested a new date and time.
The defense argued that this, “because it is a hearing that should last no less than a month, considering the accusation presented, the evidence offered and the possible incidents to be discussed at the hearing.” In addition, the defense attorney requested that a new date be set no earlier than October of this year.
It should be noted that this is not the first time that the oral trial preparation hearing has been postponed. This, since for September 22, 2021, the instance had been set; however, at the request of the prosecutors and the defense, it was postponed to October 25 of last year.
After the arrival of October, the defense requested -again- that it be rescheduled, being set for March 2022. Close to the date, it was Fuente-Alba himself who argued that as a result of a domestic accident he was “unable” to meet to collaborate with his defense, requesting that the preparation be postponed.
After this, the appointment was set for last Thursday, July 14, but a new request by the defense of the accused, accepted by the Seventh Guarantee Court of Santiago, caused it to be set for November 16 at 9:00 a.m.
