Mechanisms of the Corruption Network<\/span><\/h3>\nAccording to the Public Ministry\u2019s accusation, the guards leveraged their custodial roles in various prison modules to establish a lucrative illegal business. Their operation involved facilitating the entry and sale of a wide range of \u00abprohibited items, regulatory non-compliant items, and illicit goods,\u00bb as detailed by Prosecutor Yonsson in her arguments.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, Judge D\u00edaz provided concrete examples of this corruption, including the charging of 150,000 Chilean pesos for allowing the entry of rum bottles for New Year celebrations, a fee of 20,000 pesos for each illegally introduced mobile phone, transactions amounting to 300,000 pesos allegedly linked to drug trafficking, and the provision of special privileges to certain inmates, even permitting sexual relations with visitors in prison bathrooms in exchange for money.<\/p>\n
However, the plot extended beyond ordinary smuggling, as the investigation revealed that one of the defendants, identified as a former union leader of Gendarmer\u00eda staff, facilitated phone scams from the prison.<\/p>\n
Additionally, according to the Prosecutor\u2019s Office, this same official participated in fake search procedures \u2013 known as \u00abmexicanas\u00bb \u2013 where prohibited items were confiscated only to be later sold back to inmates, reported Bio B\u00edo Chile.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey took advantage of their custodial duties in various prison modules, thus allowing the circulation and sale of prohibited, regulatory non-compliant, and illicit items,\u201d emphasized Prosecutor Yonsson while presenting the gravity of the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey enabled the internal operation of the prison by providing cellphones for inmates to commit various phone scams and coordinate launches from outside to inside the prison,\u201d she added in statements reported by ADN.<\/p>\n
Defense attorneys Mat\u00edas Gallardo and Gustavo Riveros, representing some of the defendants, attempted to dismantle the charges of money laundering and criminal association. They argued that there was no substantial acquisition of goods that would justify the money laundering charge and questioned the formation of a criminal association. Based on this, they requested total house arrest as an alternative for their clients.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, Prosecutor Yonsson justified the request for preventive detention and warned of the dangers to the investigation \u2013 due to the risk that the accused could obstruct inquiries \u2013 and, above all, the danger to society.<\/p>\n
She highlighted that \u201conly one guard dared to testify against the accused, as all expressed a certain reverential fear of testifying and suffering reprisals from their colleagues, as did the witnesses, who are inmates that have testified and many expressed fears of sanctions, module changes, and issues where effectively a module change for them would imply suffering sanctions or potentially death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gendarmes to Serve Preventive Detention in Valdivia<\/span><\/h3>\nAfter evaluating the evidence, Judge D\u00edaz affirmed the prosecution\u2019s arguments, and the seven Gendarmer\u00eda officials were charged with bribery, corruption, criminal association, and money laundering, as well as violations of drug laws.<\/p>\n
The magistrate indicated that their freedom poses \u00aba risk to public safety linked to an inherent flight risk regarding the indictment of the seven officials.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe precautionary measure of preventive detention is accepted for them,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n
The officials will serve their precautionary measure at the Valdivia Penitentiary. Moreover, the court set a 200-day investigation period for the Prosecutor\u2019s Office to complete its investigation and prepare a formal indictment.<\/p>\n
The seven guards and the civilian were detained last Tuesday in the Los Lagos region as part of \u201cOperation Torre\u00f3n,\u201d aimed at dismantling a bribery network within the region\u2019s main jail in Puerto Montt. Two of the officials were members of the National Association of Penitentiary Officials (ANFUP).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n