Kast’s Delegate Under Fire for Illegally Occupying State Land Intended for Protection

Original article: Delegado de Kast debía resguardar bienes fiscales, pero Contraloría acreditó que mantenía una ocupación ilegal en terreno del Estado

Provincial Presidential Delegate of Chañaral, Sebastián Urrejola Aranda, is facing serious scrutiny following the Regional Comptroller’s Office of Atacama’s findings that he has been illegally occupying a state-owned plot of land in the Portofino area, which he is supposed to protect from invasions and recover for public use.

The oversight body ruled, in an official communication dated August 7, that Urrejola’s presence on the government property clearly violates the principle of administrative integrity.

The ruling pointed out a significant conflict of interest since one of the delegate’s legal responsibilities is to oversee public assets, prevent irregular occupations, and manage their swift restitution. As a result, the agency has ordered the Undersecretary of the Interior to initiate disciplinary procedures to clarify responsibilities, giving a deadline of ten business days to report on the commencement of the preliminary investigations.

The inquiry stemmed from a confidential complaint indicating that Urrejola had been using this public land for several years, frequently visiting on weekends. According to El Mostrador, the Seremi of National Assets confirmed the allegations by comparing a 2019 inventory with a new inspection conducted on June 2, 2026, which validated the irregular situation. The report from the agency details that the delegate constructed lightweight structures within a fenced area spanning one thousand square meters, estimating that this occupation has lasted for at least 16 years, during which he continued to utilize the space despite currently residing in Chañaral due to his public duties.

In light of these serious findings, National Assets has already informed the regional presidential delegate of Atacama about the discovery and announced the start of proceedings to end the occupation. This measure includes the collection of compensation for unauthorized use and the establishment of a strict deadline for the voluntary return of the land. If Urrejola does not vacate the property within the stipulated time, the matter could be referred to the State Defense Council (CDE) for the agency to take appropriate legal actions to protect public interests.

Additionally, the Comptroller’s Office has demanded documented reports from National Assets on the progress of this management, detailing both the advancements in collecting owed rents and the status of the land restitution, without ruling out the potential submission of the documents to the CDE. Concurrently, the oversight body is addressing a second complaint related to the hiring of Carlos Ramos Guerra as chief of staff for the Delegation.

As reported by the cited media, while the agency could not establish that Ramos is married to Urrejola’s sister, it did raise a serious caution: if there is a personal relationship that might compromise the delegate’s impartiality, he must strictly refrain from interfering in any decisions affecting his associate.

Featured Image: Provincial Presidential Delegation of Chañaral and Agencia UNO.