Original article: “Fue una iniciativa del Presidente”: Hermosilla atribuye a Piñera pagos en efectivo y menciona a Chadwick

«It Was the President’s Initiative»: Hermosilla Connects Cash Payments to Piñera and Mentions Chadwick

«It was the President’s initiative,» stated Luis Hermosilla before the Valparaíso Regional Prosecutor’s Office on August 27, in the context of the investigation into irregularities in judicial appointments. In statements to prosecutors Claudia Perivancich and Paola Castiglione, the lawyer confirmed that he and Samuel Donoso received cash payments from La Moneda during Sebastián Piñera’s second term and identified former minister Andrés Chadwick as part of this process.

Hermosilla indicated that these payments were in addition to those he received from the Ministry of the Interior, where he served as a legal advisor. According to the testimony accessed by investigative outlet Reportea, the criminal lawyer stated that «under the instructions of President Piñera, a coordination was established between himself and some lawyers who defended the highest political authorities in the country.»

«This was a presidential initiative aimed at keeping the President detailed informed about the progress of these cases and understanding the strategies we lawyers employed for the defenses,» he asserted, noting that this related to cases stemming from the social upheaval of October 18 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Payments of 100 UF Monthly

According to his testimony, the amounts reached nearly 100 UF monthly —around 3.5 million pesos at the time—and were delivered in person through trusted advisors such as Benjamín Salas and Andrés Sotomayor.

«The President made the decision to pay us an amount I don’t exactly remember, possibly 100 UF monthly to Samuel Donoso Boassi and me, with each of us receiving 100 UF monthly. These payments were made in cash and were handed over to either Samuel Donoso or me, after which we would pass them to one another. Normally Samuel would receive the money and deliver my share to me, who also received it as cash. These funds were never paid via bank transfer or deposit. As I recall, these payments were accumulated and paid quarterly, delivered to me by Benjamín Salas Kantor, and when Benjamín left the government, they were delivered by Andrés Sotomayor,» said Hermosilla, who is facing charges for tax crimes, money laundering, bribery, repeated bribery, and influence trafficking.

Reportea compared his statements with chats and anonymous interviews from within Piñera’s circle. On January 18, 2021, Hermosilla wrote to Donoso: «I’m like a hooker: I like to be paid.» In March 2022, after the government had ended, Sotomayor told him: «I have the fees for April-May-June. I’ll leave Samuel his share this afternoon. Do you want me to give you yours or bring it to your office on Monday?»

Chadwick’s Connection to the Payments

When explaining the source of the payments, Hermosilla linked the funds to judicial maneuvers and named the former Minister of the Interior and cousin of ex-President Piñera, Andrés Chadwick.

«I never discussed these payments directly with President Piñera, nor do I know if Samuel Donoso spoke about them with him, though I doubt it. It was the President’s initiative to make these payments for the judicial efforts we were undertaking; there was no negotiation or contract signed with the President or anyone, and this information about the payments was communicated to us indirectly through Andrés Chadwick or Benjamín Salas, who informed us about these payments being made to Samuel and me, though I cannot recall exactly who it was. I did not issue invoices for these sums received.» He stated about their origin: «I am completely unaware of it.»

According to Reportea, the prosecutor showed him chats with Salas, who served as one of Piñera’s main advisors.

In a conversation recorded on November 13, 2020, Salas commented: «I have your quarterly bonuses haha. Can I pass them to you on Monday? If you want, you can pick them up at my house today, or I’ll bring them to you on Monday.»

Later, on December 14, he stated: «I left our debt with your personal secretary. So you can go to Miami haha.»

In this connection, the lawyer noted he received payments until mid-2022.

«With these WhatsApp exchanges, there is greater clarity regarding the period covered by the payments from the end of 2020 until at least mid-2022, which extended beyond President Piñera leaving La Moneda in March 2022 because the undertaking was his,» he explained.

The confirmation of this plot emerged when Samuel Donoso, who also allegedly received cash payments, became implicated in the investigation into irregular judicial appointments. The State Defense Council filed a complaint for bribery against lawyers who may have influenced the appointment of Antonio Ulloa to the Santiago Court of Appeals. Also involved are Mario Vargas and Sergio Yáber. Reportea indicates that Donoso and Hermosilla facilitated around 17 judicial appointments, including Ulloa’s.

Hermosilla’s Accusation Against Zaliasnik

Hermosilla’s statement also addressed judicial activities involving Gabriel Zaliasnik, current Chilean ambassador to Israel. Hermosilla claimed that «Gabriel Zaliasnik had more access than I did to certain judges of the Court of Appeals, even the Supreme Court.»

This type of request can be seen in a November 2022 WhatsApp chat where the lawyer wrote: «Luis, if you could help me confirm PP (preventive detention), that would be great!!»

This request referred to a review in the Fifth Chamber of the Santiago Court, where Zaliasnik was litigating.

As recorded by Reportea, Hermosilla explained: «The only person I know from the three members of the chamber is Isabel Margarita Zúñiga, and that’s why Gabriel Zaliasnik asks me to talk to her. I don’t recall if I actually spoke with her or not.»

Regarding influence in courts, Hermosilla maintained: «There was a political interest in selecting republican judges, but litigating lawyers may generally have an interest in placing people close to them for specific cases.» He detailed that conversations about appointments included Héctor Mery, Salas, Sotomayor, and Pablo Urquizar, especially for the courts in Santiago, San Miguel, and Valparaíso. «Zaliasnik was very close to Héctor Mery. I can assert that Gabriel Zaliasnik and Samuel Donoso are very close to each other, even more so than to me.»