Supreme Court ratifies sentences in "Coimas case"

SANTIAGO.-  The Second Courtroom of the Supreme Court has rejected an appeal brought against a ruling that convicted businessman Carlos Filippi Barra, along with another six individuals, in the so-called "Coimas" bribery case.

Those who were convicted had been issuing certificates of mechanical revisions for vehicles that had not actually been revised.  The illicit acts occurred during November of 2001 and December of 2002 in Rancagua, located in the Sixth Region.

In a unanimous ruling, Ministers Nibaldo Segura, Jaime Rodriguez, Rubén Ballesteros, Hugo Dolmestch and joining-attorney Óscar Herrera rejected the appeal presented by Filippi's defense team against the decision issued by the high court of Rancagua. 

The ruling, which was announced on November 8th, 2007, had established a prison sentence of three years and one day for Carlos Filippi due to his responsibility as the mastermind of a violation against the Law of Traffic Control.

Additionally, Manuel Lazcano Pérez was sentenced to 41 days in prison, while Luis Astete Martínez, Guido Ogalde Morales, Manuel Toloza Pérez, Leopoldo Venegas Farías and Mario Pavez Valenzuela were all sentenced to 61 days in prison for aiding and abetting in the crime.