Original article: Caso Hermosilla golpea a Gahona: Notaria de Coquimbo declara que le pidió $1 millón para su campaña

Hermosilla Case Implicates Gahona: Coquimbo Notary Claims Million-Dollar Campaign Request

María José Montesino, head of the Fifth Notary Office in Coquimbo, appeared before the Public Ministry on June 22 as a defendant in the «appointments» aspect of the Hermosilla case, being investigated by regional prosecutor Claudia Perivancich in Valparaíso. Her testimony not only addressed the payments made by her and her spouse, Fernando Martel, to Gonzalo Migueles—the former partner of ousted Supreme Court Minister Ángela Vivanco—but it also directly implicated senator UDI Sergio Gahona in an alleged request for electoral financing.

According to her testimony reported by CIPER, the notary stated, «During the campaign period, many candidates have come to ask me for contributions, claiming that they influenced my appointment. Gahona was one of them and asked me for $1 million for his campaign, like many others, to whom I refused.»

Montesino’s declaration is part of the investigation into the nine invoices issued to her name by Migueles totaling $6.7 million, which she claims correspond to a commission for property brokerage.

When interviewed by the cited media, Senator Gahona categorically denied the allegations through his press team: «I categorically deny it».

The notary confirmed that her statement targets the parliamentarian and clarified that the request was made via phone, although she specified that the financing was intended for the 2023 Constitutional Council candidates and not for his senatorial campaign. «I told him I had no money», said Montesino, who also noted that the conversation did not address potential Servel channels for the contributions.

Transfers to Gahona and Other Politicians

The link between Gahona and the Hermosilla case is not the only background weighing on the parliamentarian. In the aspect known as the “Belarus plot”, investigated by the Los Lagos Prosecutor’s Office, it was found that in January 2023, conservative Sergio Yáber issued a check for $4 million in his name. Senator UDI claimed at the time that the document corresponded to a loan from him. Furthermore, his daughter, Paulina Gahona, was hired at Yáber’s CBR.

In the same case, there are other instances that connect politicians with funds from the conservative of Puente Alto. According to the information, Yáber transferred $1.6 million to Democratic Senator Matías Walker, who explained that the money was for supporting a study abroad trip for one of his children.

Additionally, in a telephone interception from October 3, 2025, Yáber himself claimed to have delivered $1.7 million to Republican deputy Cristián Araya.

While the parliamentarian denied receiving money, he did confirm having visited the conservator’s house during his campaign:

«Mr. Yáber contacted me and invited me to dinner at his house regarding my campaign for deputy, an invitation I accepted and attended», he stated, adding: «I want to make it very clear. I have never received a peso from Mr. Yáber».

The investigation is also looking into a statement linking Yamil Najle, head of the CBR in Chillán, with Senator PPD Loreto Carvajal.

Attorney Eduardo Lagos informed prosecutors that Najle allegedly paid $300 million to the parliamentarian to assist him in securing his appointment, which is currently being handled by regional prosecutor Hernán Libedinsky and remains under wraps. Carvajal has denied the allegations: «This is absolutely false, a despicable act aimed at silencing the truth and hindering the progress of the investigation».

Regarding the payments that led to her appearance, Montesino explained that these were executed by her spouse, ex-notary Fernando Martel, and pertained to a commission that Migueles earned from the rental of the property she occupied as notary between 2022 and 2023, which belongs to Sergio Yáber.

According to CIPER, the investigation also includes transfers amounting to $54 million from Martel to Migueles for consulting services between 2022 and 2024, when he was the interim notary of La Cisterna, payments that prosecutors consider a remuneration for efforts toward securing his appointment. Martel, however, claimed that these amounts correspond to the work that Migueles performed in the notary.

All of these facts illustrate a financial relationship between notaries or conservators and politicians that, if electoral financing outside of Servel is proven, could constitute crimes.