Representative Laura Soto charged with fraud

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VALPARAÍSO. – The Public Ministry of Valparaíso brought formal charges against an impudent representative Laura Soto for the misuse of employment program funds that were used to pay activists for her 2005 political campaign. She is accused having committed fraud in the amount of eight million pesos.

As stated by prosecutor Lionel González during the hearing in the municipal courtroom, the representative is suspected of having participated in the selection and facilitation of the means necessary to process the illegal payments to more than thirty individual activists.

Laura Soto reiterated her innocence, indicating that her and her team have worked arduously to obtain a “just and rational” legal proceeding, adding that nobody can be considered to be above or below the law.

The court set a timeframe of ten days until the closing of the investigation, at which point the Public Ministry will present their accusation against the representative.