Luis Hermosilla Testifies on Judicial Appointments and Cash Payments from Piñera

The Valparaíso Testimony and the Prosecution Investigation

Luis Hermosilla arrived at the offices of the Valparaíso Regional Prosecutor’s Office accompanied by two defense attorneys to face questioning by prosecutor Claudia Perivancich and the Investigative Police (PDI). The inquiry centers on corruption allegations tied to the selection of judges across the country’s court system. Hermosilla addressed his professional background, clarifying that his work as an external advisor to the Ministry of Interior under former minister Andrés Chadwick and former president Sebastián Piñera involved issuing monthly invoices for one million pesos.

Beyond his formal advisory role at the ministry, Hermosilla outlined a separate task assigned directly by the former head of state. According to his statement, Sebastián Piñera coordinated a defense group comprising private lawyers to handle high-profile criminal cases stemming from the social unrest of October 18 and pandemic-related legal proceedings. Piñera wanted direct, detailed updates on these legal strategies, prompting a unique compensation structure.

Cash Payments and Coordination Under Piñera

Hermosilla stated that he and Samuel Donoso each received 100 UF monthly for managing these sensitive defense matters. These transactions bypassed standard banking channels entirely. Cash deliveries occurred on a quarterly basis, handed over either directly or through intermediaries Benjamín Salas and later Andrés Sotomayor, at times extending past the conclusion of Piñera’s presidential term in March 2022 at Sotomayor’s private office.

This testimony directly contradicts statements given by those same defense lawyers to La Tercera between 2019 and 2020, when they insisted that their work on these matters was conducted ad honorem. Hermosilla maintained under questioning that he had no knowledge of the origin of the physical cash used for these payments.

Influence Over Judicial Appointments and Court Access

The questioning shifted toward the appointment of magistrates. Hermosilla admitted to direct lobbying, stating that he occasionally spoke with judges in hallways, phone calls, or formal audiencia requests to influence cases of personal interest, noting that some magistrates reciprocated by asking for favors such as suspended proceedings.

When questioned about a specific matter involving the firm Sartor during Gabriel Zaliasnik’s tenure as its legal representative, Hermosilla broadened his scope to target his peers. He asserted that Gabriel Zaliasnik maintained superior access to ministers within the Santiago Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Hermosilla added that he, Zaliasnik, and Donoso routinely discussed ideal candidates for vacant judicial positions, noting that his own operational focus remained restricted exclusively to Santiago appellate selections.