Mauricio Daza Criticizes Minister Steinert’s Leadership and Legal Competence in Security Management

Original article: “Inepta en el ámbito jurídico”: Daza dispara contra Steinert por su gestión en Seguridad y su pasado como fiscal

Criminal lawyer Mauricio Daza has labeled María Trinidad Steinert as «inept in the legal field,» commenting on her tenure as the Minister of Public Security and her previous role as regional prosecutor of Tarapacá.

In an interview with the program Sentido Común!, hosted by El Ciudadano’s director, Javier Pïneda Olcay, Daza was asked about a recent social media comment he made regarding Steinert. He expressed, «At this point, one not only wonders how Steinert became Minister of Security but also how she was appointed as the regional prosecutor of the Public Ministry.”

Daza emphasized that it is concerning for someone in the role of regional prosecutor, especially responsible for managing a complex judicial system in Tarapacá, to be seen as «so incompetent in the legal domain.» He also criticized her questionable approach as Minister of Security.

His criticisms were grounded in a misclassification of a kidnapping offense that Steinert attributed to an incident involving Minister of Science, Ximena Lincolao, at the Universidad Austral de Valdivia. This assertion was unanimously rejected by the Valdivia Court of Appeals.

The court concluded that the case could not simply escalate to the level of «kidnapping» and stated that the involved students could continue their proceedings without preventive detention.

«She Does Not Fully Understand What Constitutes Kidnapping»

«For anyone with a basic understanding of criminal law, it was completely absurd. It’s an attack that can be scrutinized and is questionable when utilized in ways that can intimidate anyone, be it a minister or any individual in a public debate. However, to claim this is a kidnapping is insanity,» Daza asserted.

«So what happened? Ultimately, the judicial courts affirmed what is obviously true. One must question how a person who presents themselves as an expert in criminal law, who was responsible for criminal prosecution in a region like Tarapacá, does not accurately understand what constitutes a kidnapping in a case where it evidently did not occur,» he added.

Steinert Cannot Invoke State Security Law

Daza also referenced another blow Steinert faced after the Valdivia Court of Appeals deemed the Public Security Ministry’s request to expand the complaint inadmissible, which cited the State Security Law in this matter.

In a unanimous ruling, the first chamber of the appeals court firmly rejected the requested measure, establishing that the Public Security Ministry lacked active legitimacy to file a complaint under the State Security Law.

«Regarding the invocation of the State Security Law, the law clearly states that only the Minister of the Interior or presidential delegates can formally do this,» Daza explained in the interview.

He noted that this was a matter of discussion and «it is not a mere passing interpretation.»

«This issue was debated and in essence, it was concluded that the only person who can invoke this law is the Minister of the Interior, and specifically, the Minister of Security cannot, because the State Security Law is not merely intended to safeguard public order or to ensure no crimes are committed; it is meant to protect the foundational aspects of institutional integrity,» the lawyer argued.