Former Health Official Matías Letelier Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer and Using Stolen Vehicle with Flashing Lights

Original article: Detienen a exseremi de Salud de Piñera por suplantar a carabinero, hacer controles y usar vehículo robado con balizas

Former Health Official Matías Letelier Arrested: Impersonated Police Officer While Using a Stolen Vehicle with Flashing Lights

A recent operation by Carabineros led to the arrest of Matías Letelier, the former Health Minister of the Coquimbo Region during the second presidency of Sebastián Piñera. He was caught conducting traffic controls despite lacking affiliation with the police force, as reported by ElDía.cl.

According to information provided by Carabineros, Letelier was arrested for usurpation of public functions, violation of Gun Control Laws, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The operation revealed that he was driving a vehicle reported stolen, equipped with flashing lights, and mimicking a police vehicle while carrying out checks on Av. del Mar, noted ElDía.cl.

Carabineros stressed that he is not affiliated with their institution, refuting any connection with the police. It is worth mentioning that he has a record for minor assaults, document forgery, fraud, and other scams. This arrest was facilitated by community engagement, as residents alerted authorities upon noticing that the individual conducting traffic checks did not match the profiles of the local Carabineros, explained ElDía.cl.

Matías Letelier Muñoz was appointed as the health minister of the Coquimbo Region in 2018 during Piñera’s second term. However, his tenure lasted only a few days after it was revealed that his resume contained false academic and professional credentials, leading to his departure from regional administration. He has been placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry for detention control and formal charges.