«A Victory in the Fight Against Corruption»: Daza Celebrates Pretrial Detention of Hermosilla and Calls for Investigation of Corruption Network Involving Guerra and Chadwick

Original article: «Es un triunfo en la lucha contra la corrupción»: Daza celebra prisión preventiva de Hermosilla y exige esclarecer «red de corrupción» con Guerra y Chadwick

The pretrial detention ordered against Luis Hermosilla «represents a victory in the fight against corruption and for equality before the law,» stated the plaintiff’s lawyer Mauricio Daza, who demanded clarification of the «corruption network» allegedly led by the penal lawyer and lobbyist in collusion with former prosecutor Manuel Guerra and former Interior Minister Andrés Chadwick.

In a video shared on social media, the lawyer emphasized that «we are dealing with an individual whose freedom clearly poses a danger to societal safety,» highlighting the serious background that justified the precautionary measure.

Daza stressed that Hermosilla «not only coordinated but actively operated one of the most grotesque corruption networks observed in Chile’s judicial history.»

He pointed out that «the damage caused to the credibility of our institutions, particularly those linked to criminal prosecution, is immeasurable,» underscoring the detrimental impact these actions have had on public trust.

From this perspective, the plaintiff affirmed that «the court’s actions regarding this case align perfectly with the law, considering the seriousness of the background concerning Hermosilla and the need for caution regarding an individual who, I insist, led one of the most significant corruption networks known in Chile’s history.»

These statements followed the Fourth Court of Guarantee in Santiago‘s decree of pretrial detention for lawyer Luis Hermosilla and former prosecutor Manuel Guerra, after a new formal charge involving alleged bribery and violation of secrecy.

The lawyer was charged with bribery and violation of secrecy, stemming from 13 incidents described by the prosecution as a favor exchange between him and the former prosecutor Guerra.

During the formalization hearing, the prosecution identified Andrés Chadwick as the «ultimate recipient» of communications between the penal lawyer and the then regional prosecutor, assigning him the role of «distributor of benefits» that favored political leaders and authorities connected to Sebastián Piñera’s second government, who were under investigation by Guerra.

However, regional prosecutor of Arica, Mario Carrera, indicated that thus far there is only «circumstantial evidence» to support potential liabilities for Chadwick, without having made a decision on formal charges against him.

When asked by CIPER about the Prosecutor’s Office’s possible inconsistency, Daza commented that «the argument that Chadwick cannot be charged because there is only circumstantial evidence is absurd. In corruption crimes, evidence is typically circumstantial.»

He explained that «no one will formalize the conditions of a corruption deal between a public official and another person in a public deed at a notary,» thus refuting the prosecution’s thesis.

The lawyer added that the chats themselves constitute evidence. “There is direct evidence contained in the communications that Chadwick had with Hermosilla and the communications they had with Guerra.” In that vein, he asserted that «the excuses from the Public Prosecution are outright unsustainable and raise all kinds of suspicion,” questioning the actions of the prosecuting body.

Daza: «Chadwick Lied Brazenly»

Daza went further, pointing to a potential link that could explain this inconsistency: «It should be noted that there is a clear connection between Ángel Valencia [national prosecutor] and the former Interior Minister,» he remarked, referencing a photograph revealing Chadwick and Valencia that surfaced in March 2024, during the election of the national prosecutor.

«My personal hypothesis is that this is basically being monitored from the National Prosecutor’s Office through Eugenio Campos [director of the Anti-Corruption Specialized Unit of the National Prosecutor’s Office], and that Mario Carrera’s role is quite restricted or limited in practice,» he concluded.

He also recalled that Chadwick, in his only statement regarding the case, «lied brazenly» by claiming he never met with Guerra, despite the former prosecutor stating there were five or six meetings between them, which indicates that the former Interior Minister has not cooperated or contributed to this investigation.

The plaintiff revealed that they have had to interact with Campos regarding this case and expressed that «Campos is not the prosecutor of this case.» He further stated, «Given the evidence available in the investigative file and the content of the judicial rulings issued during this case, it is only natural and obvious that Andrés Chadwick should be formally charged as soon as possible. If the Prosecutor’s Office does not do so, it is directly inexplicable,» Daza demanded, insisting on the full clarification of the corruption network involving Hermosilla, Guerra, and Chadwick.

Finally, he told CIPER that he has repeatedly asked prosecutor Mario Carrera whether he will charge the former Interior Minister, without receiving a response: «It seems that the only ones who do not see Andrés Chadwick as a relevant part of these crimes are the Prosecutor’s Office and Chadwick’s defense,» he questioned.