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Original article: Diputada Nathalie Castillo cuestiona a proyecto Dominga tras querella por pagos a estudio jurídico vinculado a la «trama bielorrusa»

Deputy Nathalie Castillo (PC) voiced strong criticism of the Dominga mining and port project following a lawsuit filed by Greenpeace for alleged crimes including aggravated bribery and breach of confidentiality. This legal action was accepted by the Seventh Court of Guarantee in Santiago on May 18, as reported by El Desconcierto.

The lawsuit follows an investigation by the media outlet Reportea, which revealed payments made by Andes Iron to the law firm Lagos, Vargas & Silber between March and December 2023—representatives that are reportedly associated with the so-called «Belarusian scheme.»

The total amount paid reaches $255.5 million, despite the fact that the legal representation of the mining company was hosted by another law firm.

«Dominga demonstrates once again what communities have been reporting for years: when economic power pushes to expedite projects at any cost, it is families, the environment, and public trust in institutions that ultimately pay the price,» stated Deputy Castillo.

«We have said it a thousand times; this is not just a mega project that impacts the Humboldt Archipelago: it has also been marked by its networks of influence, conflicts of interest, and acts of corruption linked to judicial decisions and those involved in the processing of Dominga,» warned the legislator.

Furthermore, the PC parliamentarian noted, «we highlighted this during the processing of the mega-reform. When there are suspicions of corruption, the least that should be done is to strengthen transparency, increase controls, and enhance environmental governance. But the opposite is happening: they want to expedite approvals, limit reviews, and reduce environmental requirements in favor of economic power in Chile.»

New Developments

The lawsuit introduces a new piece of evidence: Cecilia Ramírez, wife of Supreme Court Minister Jean Pierre Matus, allegedly performed functions at the law firm, receiving payments totaling $18 million between 2023 and 2024, a period that coincides with the payments made by Andes Iron to the firm, according to the legal writing.

Greenpeace claims that this mechanism may have operated as a «screen» to funnel financial benefits to the minister or his close circle. The prosecuting lawyer, Mauricio Daza, also reminded that Matus voted in favor of the Dominga project on two occasions, even drafting one of the rulings.

It is worth noting that Deputy Castillo previously requested the minister’s disqualification from drafting one of the rulings after it was revealed that Jean Pierre Matus had included lawyer Marcelo Castillo, an advocate for the Dominga project, on his list of disqualifications.

«The lawsuit filed by Greenpeace Chile is of tremendous significance, as it brings back to light information that cannot be hidden under narratives of economic growth. If environmental organizations, communities, and experts all warn of institutional and environmental risks, the State has the obligation to listen and act responsibly,» concluded the parliamentarian.

We will continue to provide updates.

La entrada Deputy Nathalie Castillo Questions Dominga Project Amid Lawsuit Over Payments Linked to ‘Belarusian Scheme’ se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.