The Punta Arenas Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into alleged subsidy fraud involving Susana Chicuy Godoy, the partner of Republican Party Congressman Alejandro Riquelme Ducci. The inquiry stems from a formal complaint filed by the Housing and Urbanization Service (Serviu) after irregularities were detected in the approval of a Solidarity Housing Fund (DS 49) subsidy.
Housing Minister Iván Poduje confirmed the case was opened after receiving information from three Serviu officials during a visit to Punta Arenas on May 2. According to Ex-Ante, Poduje ordered internal investigations even though Congressman Riquelme—with whom he met that same day—denied any wrongdoing during his time as a regional councilor.
The complaint alleges that Chicuy was added to the "Estepa Austral I" housing project on July 7, 2022, and received a home in 2023 despite her financial status. According to Cooperativa, the couple shares three children and has held business partnerships, such as Magallania Capacitación Limitada, a firm that received over 401 million pesos in state transfers in 2022 through Sercotec and the National Treasury.
Defense and the couple's history
Congressman Riquelme’s camp argues that the subsidy application was submitted in 2021, before the congressman took office as a regional councilor. They also maintain that Chicuy joined an indigenous group to access the project at the request of the construction company, rejecting claims that her eligibility was based on socioeconomic vulnerability.
However, the timeline of their relationship is in dispute. While the congressman’s associates claim the couple separated in 2019 after 18 years together, a May 10, 2025, ruling from the Punta Arenas Guarantee Court contradicts this version. In that ruling, which stemmed from a defamation lawsuit filed by Riquelme, Chicuy herself testified under oath that she has been the congressman’s partner for 18 years and that they maintain active business partnerships.
Punta Arenas Chief Prosecutor Johanna Irribarra confirmed that the case is ongoing and currently in the investigative stage. Meanwhile, Minister Poduje emphasized that the ministry is conducting an audit of 3,000 similar cases to prevent the misuse of resources intended for the most vulnerable.
"The information we have is that this complaint has indeed been filed, and we are currently carrying out an audit plan regarding the misuse of social housing," Poduje told CNN Chile. The Secretary of State added, "This affects all citizens equally; no one is exempt from that. Everyone is equal before the law."
