Calisto enters the battle because of Junaeb: defense will seek to limit access to cellphone content seized by the PDI

Detectives from the Anti-Corruption Brigade of the Investigations Police (PDI) raided the home of Senator Miguel Ángel Calisto (Independent) in Santiago late Thursday night, August 20, as part of an investigation led by Fiscal Constanza Encina into alleged crimes linked to irregularities within the National Council for Scholarships and Educational Assistance (Junaeb). The operation took place just before 6 a.m., with officers presenting a court order issued the previous day by Judge Francis Fell of the Fourth Guarantee Court in Santiago. Calisto voluntarily handed over his mobile phone and computer during the raid, though the exact nature of the investigation remained unclear. Sources close to Calisto claim they were unaware of this new legal action against him, which involves other figures including former Junaeb executives, past officials tied to the organization, Senator Sergio Gahona (UDI), former deputy Hugo Gutiérrez (PC), and attorney Darío Calderón. The charges include fraud against the state, cybercrime, offenses against public health, forgery of private instruments, bribery, and money laundering, all connected to activities carried out by the company Soser. These allegations relate to irregularities in food distribution at educational institutions in the O'Higgins Region, such as overreporting meal quantities, forging meal certificates to inflate payments, distributing contaminated food, and introducing false data into Junaeb’s systems. Calisto has focused much of his time on rebuilding his defense against prior investigations involving entirely different matters, handled by regional prosecutors in La Araucanía and Aysén. Recently, he changed legal representation after learning that one of these cases could result in a 12-year prison sentence. Lawyers Jorge Bofill and César Ramos withdrew, while the firm led by criminal lawyer Nelson Salas took over. Salas, who represents Calisto in this new case, quickly initiated actions to limit the scope of the investigation led by Encina. According to information obtained by La Tercera, Salas filed a motion requesting access to the prosecutor's request that led to the search and seizure of Calisto’s devices. This move was made because the procedure might infringe upon the senator’s fundamental rights, and proper defense requires knowledge of the specific grounds for the investigation. The legal team argues that without this information, they cannot adequately defend their client. Further steps include seeking a hearing to impose restrictions on the examination of the seized electronic devices. The goal is to ensure that only relevant information related to the current investigation is accessed, avoiding unnecessary intrusion into sensitive materials. Representatives of Calisto emphasize that, due to his position as a member of Congress, these devices may contain confidential information that should not be exposed without judicial oversight. The legal battle continues as Calisto’s team works to define the boundaries of the ongoing inquiry. With multiple legal fronts open, the senator faces mounting pressure to navigate complex procedural challenges while maintaining his political standing. The outcome of these efforts will likely shape the trajectory of both his personal legal situation and broader implications for institutional accountability in Chile.