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Original article: “Cuota Flores”: Gajardo llama a investigar si el mecanismo se repite en el Congreso

Investigate ‘Cuota Flores’: Gajardo Urges Scrutiny of Potential Congressional Misconduct

Former prosecutor Carlos Gajardo has called for both the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Congress to investigate whether the mechanism known as «Cuota Flores«, allegedly utilized by Senator Camila Flores (RN) to misappropriate part of her advisors’ salaries, is a widespread practice among parliamentarians.

The Valparaíso Regional Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation against Flores for the crime of defrauding the treasury, following an anonymous report that suggests she improperly appropriated public funds during her time as a deputy by requesting that part of her collaborators’ salaries be delivered in cash to finance personal expenses. This situation may have continued for at least seven years, involving an amount close to $300 million.

In a message and video posted on his social media, Gajardo stated that this case «must be thoroughly investigated«.

«Serious information has emerged suggesting a possible crime of fraud against the treasury involving the parliamentary allocations of Camila Flores. According to a report aired by Canal 13, there appear to be various individuals hired by the parliamentarian using funds from the National Congress to provide services typical of parliamentary representation as a deputy and now as a senator, where the cutting the tail mechanism was implemented, meaning that a significant portion of the salary paid to these staff was returned in cash to the parliamentarian, with the collection conducted by her secretary (Yolanda Olfos),» the lawyer mentioned.

Gajardo noted that these are «very serious facts that need thorough investigation«.

He recalled that the inquiry initiated from an anonymous report is led by the Valparaíso Regional Prosecutor’s Office and includes evidence such as conversations and WhatsApp messages discussing this money refund mechanism.

He emphasized that «beyond the specific situation of parliamentarian Camila Flores, it is crucial for both the Congress and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate whether this is a common practice among other parliamentarians«, particularly in light of the «high salaries revealed in recent days that some congressional staff receive, where this mechanism might also be in operation.»

For the former prosecutor, a «sensitive role like that related to Congress and the nation’s representatives should be characterized by transparency and integrity being the rule, not the exception«.

Currently, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is working to determine whether the collected evidence constitutes any criminal conduct.

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