Original article: Fiscalía Centro Norte abre investigación contra ministro Rabat y subsecretario Silva tras denuncia de diputados Cuello y Santana

North Central Prosecutor’s Office Launches Investigation into Minister Rabat and Undersecretary Silva Following Complaints from Deputies Cuello and Santana

The Metropolitan North Regional Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation against Justice Minister Fernando Rabat and Undersecretary of Justice Luis Silva, following a complaint of administrative prevarication filed by deputies Luis Cuello (PC) and Juan Santana (PS).

This investigation arises in the context of recent public revelations regarding reduced sentences granted to individuals convicted of sexual offenses against minors.

Regional prosecutor Francisco Jacir Manterola will lead the investigation, supported by the North Central Anti-Corruption and Specialized Investigation Prosecutor’s Office.

The complaint was submitted to National Prosecutor Ángel Valencia, who referred the details to the Regional Prosecutor’s Office on October 29.

In relation to the matter, Deputy Luis Cuello welcomed the commencement of the investigation and called for the resignation of both officials.

«I appreciate that the North Central Prosecutor’s Office has started an investigation based on the complaint we filed against Minister Rabat and Undersecretary Silva for the crime of administrative prevarication, which we presented alongside Deputy Juan Santana. Both officials issued illegal decrees, granting sentence reductions to sexual offenders even when there was an explicit norm prohibiting it,» stated the legislator.

«From now on, both Minister Rabat and the Undersecretary will be considered accused, and I hope this is a decisive factor for them to resign from their positions. A tremendous harm has been done to the victims of sexual crimes; it has harmed the children of Chile,» added the parliamentarian.

On his part, Deputy Juan Santana (PS) emphasized, «For the first time in Chile’s recent history, we have a justice minister under investigation. The Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal probe against Justice Minister and Undersecretary Silva, which will be directed by the regional prosecutor with the support of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. What the government wanted to dismiss as a mere error is now being investigated as a potential crime.»

«We are talking about 56 decrees that reduced sentences for individuals convicted of sexual crimes against children, and there is an Undersecretary who claims he signed following his minister’s guidance. Now President Kast must decide whether to retain a Justice Minister under investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office. We will stand with the victims,» the parliamentarian asserted.

We will continue to provide updates.