The court overseeing the 'Pacogate' case rejected a request from prosecutors on Monday for pretrial detention for 25 individuals convicted in the multi-million dollar Carabineros fraud. The ruling upholds current precautionary measures, which primarily consist of full and nighttime house arrest.
This decision follows last Friday's guilty verdict, in which the court found 25 of the 28 defendants guilty of repeated embezzlement of public funds and money laundering.
Deputy Prosecutor Osvaldo Montero led the effort to tighten restrictions on the convicted individuals. Prosecutors argued that the recent convictions serve as a critical precedent justifying the need for pretrial detention for those involved.
“Specifically, we requested pretrial detention for the 25 convicted individuals. However, the court weighed the evidence and decided to maintain the measures they are currently under,” Montero explained regarding the court's decision.
Defense challenges investigation
Defense attorneys expressed satisfaction with the trial's outcome, placing particular emphasis on the acquittals achieved. Attorney Francisco Castillo highlighted the situation of his client, Iván Whipple, following years of litigation in a highly complex case.
Castillo noted that state institutions managed the investigation poorly. “If the results of the investigation—which we acknowledge was complex—had been reviewed objectively by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Defense Council, Mr. Iván Whipple would never have been brought to trial, precisely because the evidence from the start demonstrated his innocence,” the lawyer stated.
The defense also argued that current house arrest measures are sufficient for the proceedings. He contended that the court recognized mitigating circumstances in the verdict and that the length of the case may mean that part of the sentences have already been served.
Meanwhile, prosecutors warned of the severity of the pending sentences. The convicted individuals face prison terms that could exceed 20 years, given the scale of the crimes and the volume of evidence presented in a case marked by a high number of defendants and complex background evidence.