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Original article: “Cajas de alimentos”: El caso de corrupción que Steinert decidió no escalar antes de asumir como ministra  

From Prosecutor to Minister: The «Food Box» Corruption Case

Just days before assuming her role as Minister of Security, Trinidad Steinert—then the regional prosecutor of Tarapacá—chose not to file a prepared appeal against the acquittal of eight individuals involved in the «Food Box» corruption case, which implicated officials linked to the UDI and RN parties of the current administration. This decision was revealed in an investigation by journalist Nicolás Sepúlveda in Reportea.

The document remained unsigned on her desk as of November 3, 2025, and two months later, she resigned from the Public Ministry to join José Antonio Kast’s government.

The investigation, which began in 2020, examined inflated prices totaling $514 million for the purchase of over 45,000 food boxes during the pandemic. Sources from the Tarapacá prosecutor’s office confirmed that the appeal was drafted in early November. Among those acquitted were former regional director Miguel Ángel Quezada (UDI) and close affiliates of RN, while the State Defense Council did file an appeal—which was ultimately rejected.

The decision not to pursue the case, as explained by the prosecutor’s office to Reportea, was made by the highest authority at that time. However, suspicions grew in Tarapacá due to the timing of her appointment to the cabinet, which her associates label as «political interpretations without basis.» Reportea noted that judicial sources acknowledged that the timeline «raised doubts,» although there is no public evidence proving any political interference.

For complete details on this exclusive story, including comments from her inner circle and the political implications of the case, read the full report linked in Reportea.
Source: Reportea | Author: Nicolás Sepúlveda

The Corruption Case Steinert Chose Not to Pursue Before Becoming Minister, Resulting in the Acquittal of Government Officials

La entrada Trinidad Steinert’s Controversial Decision on Food Box Corruption Case Before Joining Cabinet Raises Eyebrows se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.