Former tourism agent must repay $66 million defrauded from Chilean Army
An appeal court reversed the closure of a civil case and ordered a woman to compensate the State for funds diverted from official military travel.
Former tourism agent must repay $66 million defrauded from Chilean Army
A woman who worked for a tourism company must hand over more than sixty-six million pesos to the State after being found responsible for diverting funds allocated for official travel by members of the armed forces. The ruling was handed down by judges from the capital's appeal court, who overturned a previous decision that had closed the case on grounds of alleged expiration.
The judicial matter began when the defendant was sentenced in 2021 by a guarantee court in the capital, which found her guilty of fraud against public assets and repeatedly falsifying commercial documents. During that abbreviated trial, the defendant admitted her role in the investigated facts.
The illicit scheme consisted of presenting excessive charges for air transfers, issuing receipts with inaccurate information, simulating reimbursements for supposed excess luggage, and financing with state funds accommodation at recreation sites not contemplated in the official commissions.
The first civil court that heard the matter rejected the State's claim, arguing that too much time had passed to demand repayment. However, the members of the appeals panel determined that by admitting the facts during the criminal proceedings, the convicted person tacitly waived any later claim that the action had expired.
For the second-instance judges, it is incompatible for a person to admit to a court that they have caused harm and later attempt to benefit from a defence that denies that same damage.
After establishing the illicit act, the amount of damages, and the link between them, the court ordered the former executive to pay the full amount of what was defrauded, together with monetary adjustments, interest, and legal costs.
_Source: El Desconcierto_
Source: Google News CL — Santiago