Chile’s Senate on Monday approved constitutional charges against former judge Antonio Ulloa Marquez for “gross dereliction of duty” and other misconduct uncovered during the scandal investigation. audio case. With a majority of senators voting in favor of Chapter 3 defamation, the jurist was removed from his position as a judge on the Santiago Court of Appeals, disqualified from holding public office for five years, and ended his 36-year judicial career.
The 61-year-old lawyer was accused of forwarding contracts and information from the court to the main character in the case, influential criminal lawyer Luis Hermosilla. audio case It was discovered in November 2023. He was not disbarred for intervening in the appointment or promotion of judicial officers or for cases in which he was in a position close to the intervenor.
Mr. Ulloa was suspended from serving as a judge, but remained in office after the Supreme Court did not have the quorum needed to remove him on September 30. This gave way to Socialist Party MPs Daniel Manucelli and Daniela Cicardini, who pushed for constitutional charges against the jurist.
Uncertainty persisted into this weekend as the necessary quorum might not be achieved, as happened in the Supreme Court. However, the constitutional charges were overwhelmingly supported by both the ruling and opposition parties. Chapter 1 of the defamation complaint, which refers to “failure of duty by reservists,” was supported by 44 of the 47 senators present for this part. The second motion, which accused Ulloa of being biased in some cases, received 27 votes in favor, eight against, and eight abstentions. The final motion concerned intervention in appointments, which was supported by 30 members, but 7 opposed and 8 abstained.
On Sunday, Leftist and Christian Democratic (DC) candidate Janet Hara called for a vote in favor of the constitutional charges. “The fight against corruption requires consistency, transparency, and commitment. This Monday, the Senate will have the opportunity to demonstrate that there is no room for impunity in our country, regardless of position or political color,” he wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account. And on Saturday, traditional right-wing standard-bearer Evelyn Massey also said on the social network that “the whole of Chile is watching what will happen in the Senate on Monday regarding Minister Ulloa,” and called on National Prosecutor Ángel Valencia to consider “the urgent appointment of a special prosecutor to thoroughly investigate new potential networks of corruption in the judiciary.” Meanwhile, National Liberal Party MP and presidential candidate Johannes Kaiser had voted in favor of the judge’s dismissal in the House of Commons at the end of October.
“Political revenge”
Before entering the Senate floor, Ulloa told reporters in Congress that he was calm because he was confident he had not neglected his duties and had already been sanctioned by the Supreme Court, hinting at disciplinary action, including a two-month suspension and a pay cut. “I believe this constitutional charge is a political vendetta in which the accusers logically participate,” he said. He also accused MPs Manuchelli and Cicardini of being behind it.
“I can’t say I wasn’t reckless, but I’m not part of a corrupt network,” Ulloa said.
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