Court accepts defense request of Karen Rojo and pays 1,463 days she was detained in the Netherlands

A Chilean court has accepted the defense's request to credit 1,463 days of imprisonment served by former mayor Karen Rojo while she was held in the Netherlands, reducing her remaining sentence significantly. The decision comes after Rojo was detained abroad during the extradition process, which saw her held nearly four years before being transferred back to Chile. As of July 14, 2026, Rojo has completed approximately 80 percent of her five-year sentence for tax fraud committed while leading the northern city of Antofagasta. The ruling was made by the Antofagasta Juvenile Court following a legal petition filed by Rojo’s defense team. According to her attorney, Fidel Castro, these credited days will bring her total time served up to July 14, with a new calculation beginning on July 15. This means Rojo now has less than a year left to serve her sentence domestically. She is currently housed at the Santiago Women’s Prison, where her legal team plans to assess potential benefits for early release or other forms of sentence reduction. Rojo was arrested in Amsterdam on July 13, 2022, and spent almost four years in Utrecht’s prison before being extradited to Chile. Her conviction stems from a tax fraud case that occurred during her tenure as mayor of Antofagasta. The offense, classified as a completed fiscal fraud, led to a five-year and one-day effective prison term. During her time in the Netherlands, her legal representatives argued that the period of detention should count toward her sentence under national law. Castro emphasized that this legal move follows a precedent set by the Supreme Court in a similar case involving another individual, Jones Huala, who was released after his extradition. Rojo’s defense cited this judicial interpretation to support their argument that the time spent in Dutch custody should be recognized as part of her sentence. The court’s acceptance of this reasoning marks a pivotal moment in Rojo’s legal journey, potentially allowing her to complete her sentence sooner than anticipated. The case highlights the complexities surrounding international legal cooperation and how different jurisdictions handle the crediting of time served abroad. While Chilean courts have previously ruled on such matters, this instance brings renewed attention to the application of these principles in high-profile cases. Rojo’s situation has drawn interest due to both the duration of her detention overseas and the nature of the charges against her. Her legal team indicated they would begin evaluating possible avenues for further reductions in her sentence, including conditional releases or other legal mechanisms available under Chilean law. These options often depend on factors such as behavior during incarceration, participation in rehabilitation programs, and the overall assessment by prison authorities. However, any such measures require formal approval from the judiciary and must comply with existing legal frameworks. The decision to credit the days spent in the Netherlands reflects a broader trend in legal systems worldwide to recognize the equivalence of custodial time across borders. Such rulings can significantly impact the actual time served by individuals facing extradition or deportation. In Rojo’s case, the outcome could influence future interpretations of similar legal scenarios, particularly in cases involving extended periods of detention abroad. As of now, Rojo continues to reside in the Santiago Women’s Prison, awaiting further developments in her case. Her legal representatives remain focused on exploring all available options to ensure her sentence is fulfilled efficiently and in accordance with applicable laws. The court’s recent ruling provides a critical step forward in resolving the outstanding portion of her legal obligations.