CIPER: WhatsApp Chats Link Hermosilla, Judge Ulloa and Verónica Sabaj to Backing Lorena Parra for Metropolitan East Regional Prosecutor

New evidence adds to the picture of influence peddling and behind-the-scenes appointments in Chiles justice system. CIPER obtained a series of WhatsApp messages exchanged between attorney Luis Hermosilla and then Santiago Court of Appeals minister Verónica Sabaj that reveal a coordinated effort to secure prosecutor Lorena Parras nomination as head of the Metropolitan East Regional Prosecutors Office. Parra currently leads the case in which the prominent defense lawyer was formally charged with tax crimes, bribery and money laundering, and he spent 200 days in pretrial detention.

The chats, which are part of the criminal case against Hermosilla and the proceedings that resulted in Sabajs removal, not only show the exchange of confidential information and procedural strategies details reported previously but also lay out the machinery activated to influence a key post within the Public Prosecutors Office. The operation actively involved Judge Antonio Ulloa who, after being appointed to the court with assistance from Hermosilla, switched his original vote to back Parra.

The prosecutors request and the start of the operation

The effort traces back to August 2, 2021. That day, as Chilevisión previously reported, prosecutor Lorena Parra then a candidate for the job wrote urgently to Luis Hermosilla: “Luis, were you able to speak with Minister Sabaj? Im a bit worried.” The criminal lawyer replied briefly: “Ill call you.”

According to the digital outlets reporting, Parras request she had sent her résumé to the defense attorney quickly turned into action. At 4:56 p.m. on August 2, Hermosilla messaged Sabaj on WhatsApp, kicking off a conversation that showed their alignment to secure the prosecutors spot on the shortlist for the Metropolitan East Regional Prosecutors Office.

Hermosilla: I have a question on another boring matter.
Sabaj: Go ahead.
Hermosilla: Shortlist for the Regional Prosecutors Office (East).
Sabaj: Yes.
Sabaj: Im backing Lorena Parra.
Hermosilla: Me too.
Hermosilla: Hope it goes well for her.
Sabaj: Good.
Hermosilla: Shes very serious.
Sabaj: I hope so.
Hermosilla: I think highly of her.

This exchange marked the start of a coordinated campaign. In fact, Sabaj told Hermosilla she had spoken “with the entire alternate bench,” referring to substitute appellate judges, to lock in support.

The push to win over Judge Ulloa

One obstacle identified by the pair was Judge Antonio Ulloas initial preference for another candidate: Rocío Berríos, then executive director of the Western Metropolitan Regional Prosecutors Office. According to the chats, Berríos supporters aimed specifically to peel votes away from Parra.

On August 11, 2021, on the eve of voting in the Santiago and San Miguel appeals courts, Hermosilla updated Sabaj on his outreach to Ulloa:

Hermosilla: I hope things go well for Lorena [Parra] tomorrow.
Hermosilla: Trying to convince Antonio [Ulloa].

Minutes later, Sabaj confirmed the missions success:

Sabaj: Its done.
Sabaj: GZ [Gabriel Zaliasnik] told me.
Sabaj: And Antonio confirmed today.
Sabaj: He also said he spoke with you.

Influence over Judge Ulloa proved decisive. Previous chats published by CIPER show that the then appeals court minister had warned the defense attorney and lobbyist that Ulloa and lawyer Mario Vargas were actively trying to damage Parras candidacy.

CIPER has documented this pattern by Ulloa in earlier reports: the magistrate not only champions allied candidates for senior judicial posts, but also moves to block aspirants who arent to his liking. In one of those cases, Vargas represented Belaz Movitec, the Belarusian company whose case figured in the removal of Supreme Court minister Ángela Vivanco, according to the outlet.

Based on the new chats, Sabaj described to Hermosilla the plan that had been set in motion against Parra.

Sabaj: “1. Antonio [Ulloa] tells [Juan Cristóbal] Mera that behind Lorena [Parra] is Eugenio González… knowing hes his enemy so he wont vote for her. Good thing Mera checks with me… but the same contact tells who knows how many others, and theyve used other channels too.”

Sabaj: 2. Mario [Vargas] meets with Antonio and the idea is that ministers dont vote for Lorena because shes the strongest candidate. They directly ask not to vote for her and to back Felipe Sepúlveda…

The triumph of “La Regalona”

On August 12, 2021, the day of the vote, Sabaj became Hermosillas real-time informant. She sent the list of ministers present and details on the support secured:

Sabaj: “I have in Santiagos appeals court the entire alternate bench (7) plus JCM [Juan Cristóbal Mera]; supposedly also a couple [Tomás] Gray [María Soledad] Melo [Antonio] Ulloa?? And in San Miguel [Diego] Simpertigue. GZ [Gabriel Zaliasnik] got Loreto [Gutiérrez] and [Fernando] Carreño. Lorena [Parra] on her own got others.
Sabaj: Hope its enough what do you think?
Hermosilla: My forecast is LP Cox RB.
Sabaj: Me too.”

Nearly five hours later, at 5:52 p.m., Sabaj announced the result:

Sabaj: She won.
Sabaj: Made the shortlist.
Sabaj: Sepúlveda 6.
Sabaj: Berríos 24.
Sabaj: Lorena 27.

Hermosilla responded at 6:24 p.m.:

Hermosilla: The favorite.

And Sabaj wasnt his only source. At the same time, Judge Antonio Ulloa also texted Hermosilla to confirm the outcome:

Ulloa: Berríos and Parra swept it.
Hermosilla: Im very glad. Is the vote public?
Ulloa: Yes, my friend.

On September 1, 2021, when then National Prosecutor Jorge Abbott formalized Parras appointment, the chat celebrated, as reported by journalists Catalina Olate and Paulina Toro for the digital outlet.

Sabaj: Appointed!!
Sabaj: Lorena Parra.
Hermosilla: Fantastic!!!!

Prosecutor Parra now leads the case against Hermosilla

In a written statement to CIPER, the Metropolitan East Regional Prosecutors Office, on behalf of prosecutor Parra, said that “during the selection process for the Metropolitan East regional post, as previously noted, prosecutor Lorena Parra like other applicants contacted lawyers and ministers of the Santiago appeals courts to share her résumé, with the aim of showcasing her track record and professional experience in the Public Prosecutors Office.”

“It should be noted that prosecutor Parra had no knowledge of the interactions between Minister Sabaj and attorney Luis Hermosilla,” the office added.

However, Parras August 2, 2021 message to Hermosilla “Luis, were you able to speak with Minister Sabaj? Im a bit worried” undercuts that claim, showing she not only knew of the contact but was tracking its outcome.

Today, prosecutor Lorena Parra leads the investigation in which Luis Hermosilla has been formally charged with tax crimes, bribery and money laundering. The team she heads also has access to all the chats from Hermosillas phone the same evidence now exposing the operation that helped place her in the post.