Detectives and judicial system workers are among those arrested in connection to corruption ring

To see international photos, click here

SANTIAGO.- The Undersecretary of the Interior, Felipe Harboe, has confirmed the arrest of six detectives and eight judicial workers that are accused of belonging to a ring of corruption that includes some 20 people who have allegedly worked to protect criminals.

"Thanks to the efficient work carried out by the Central North Public Prosecutor's Office, we were able to single out those involved  and early this morning, about 20 people were served arrest warrants", the undersecretary told Radio Cooperativa.

Those arrested are accused of falsifying documents to gain prison benefits for drug traffickers. The individuals allegedly eliminated previous criminal records and pulled strings to allow prisoners to be set free.

The undersecretary stressed the improvements in the legal system, and that it was able to detect the corruption, regardless of the institution the defendants belonged to.

"This country can trust that the legal system will prosecute those responsible, whoever they are", he stated.

Police have denied that any uniformed members of law enforcement were involved, indicating that the members of the judicial system that were arrested are service workers and other individuals with no connection whatsoever.