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Original article: Caso Calisto se agranda: Fiscalía abre arista por soborno mientras se acerca audiencia de desafuero

The case involving Senator Miguel Ángel Calisto continues to grow, evolving from an investigation focused on alleged tax fraud—for which prosecutors are already seeking a sentence of 12 years in prison—into a much more complicated legal entanglement.

On May 8, the chief prosecutor of Coyhaique, Luis Contreras, decided to separate various pieces of evidence related to the crime of bribery from the main case. This move not only widens the scope of the accusation but also reintroduces former Aysén regional prosecutor Carlos Palma, who had previously been mentioned in other cases for leaking information.

The catalyst for this new investigative path was not a chance discovery; rather, it emerged from the testimonies of former parliamentary advisors Carla Graff and Ronald Cárcamo, who have been crucial in prompting the Public Prosecutor’s Office to pursue this angle. During the latest protective hearings, both former collaborators of Calisto stated that they provided evidence describing a web of irregular payments. The prosecution’s hypothesis suggests that these funds were intended to influence the closure or deactivation of investigations affecting the senator, including the very case that now drives the request for immunity.

Furthermore, it has been indicated that the received funds were not allocated to the roles for which they were hired; instead, they were redirected to entirely different purposes, adding complexity to the accusation, as reported by El Mostrador.

The defense has not taken long to respond. Lawyer César Ramos, speaking to Radio Biobío, labeled the allegations as «absolutely false» and expressed serious criticism towards the Public Prosecutor’s procedure.

Ramos argued that the statements come from co-defendants seeking procedural benefits through their testimonies, which raises doubts about the credibility of the new accusation. Concurrently, he strongly criticized the timing of the introduction of this evidence, noting that the defense was only made aware of it after the investigation into the tax fraud was closed and following the formal charges. According to the lawyer, this situation created a sense of helplessness that prevented them from taking timely actions to counter the claims made by the former advisors.

This new judicial chapter places the senator at a critical political and legal crossroads. In the short term, Calisto will face the immunity hearing requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, a process that will determine whether he can be subjected to criminal trial. The decision of the Supreme Court ministers, who will evaluate the evidence, becomes even more complex with the emergence of this new offense. Simultaneously, the shadow of former prosecutor Carlos Palma resurfaces in the case, reigniting the debate over potential protection networks or complicity within the judicial system, especially following his previous formal charges for leaking protected information tied to lawyer Luis Hermosilla.

For now, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has been cautious regarding the procedural standing of those involved in this new bribery angle. What is evident, however, is that the investigation against Calisto has entered a phase of constant expansion, where each new testimony and piece of evidence broadens the judicial perimeter against him.

La entrada Caso Calisto Expands: Prosecutors Launch Bribery Investigation Amid Imminent Immunity Hearing se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.