CLOn August 3, 2026, the Court of Appeals in Santiago rejected a request to annul the trial against former carabinero Claudio Crespo in the Gatica case, upholding his acquittal on charges of unlawful coercion. The court confirmed that Crespo’s actions were deemed lawful by the first-instance tribunal, despite the prosecution’s dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, former deputy Joaquín Lavín León remains in preventive detention over alleged tax fraud and misuse of electoral data. His defense sought to reduce the severity of his pretrial measures but was denied due to concerns about potential obstruction of justice. Additionally, the Security Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to expand the legal defense rights of police officers acting in self-defense while on duty, which now moves to the Chamber’s plenary for further consideration.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual updates on judicial decisions and legislative developments without overtly favoring any political side. It includes perspectives from both prosecutors and defendants, providing balanced coverage of legal outcomes and policy proposals.
