The Chilean justice this Tuesday decreed preventive detention against the former Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalveafter being accused of alleged crimes of rape and sexual abuse committed in the month of September.
The judge of Seventh Guarantee Court of Santiago, Mario Cayulaccepted the request of the prosecution and the complainant, considering that Monsalve represents a danger to society and the victim.
During the hearing, which lasted more than 12 hours, expert evidence was presented, including the DNA analysis found on the complainant’s clothing, videos and witness testimonies.
“Our conviction is that he is the author of the same in this initial stage of the investigation“said the prosecutor Francisco Jacirwho is leading the case.
The former undersecretary, who until recently was a key figure in the president’s government Gabriel Boricresigned from his position on October 17 after the first accusations.
Monsalvewho served as the main person in charge of the country’s security and the fight against organized crime, faces a possible sentence of 15 years in prison, as determined by the judge. Cayulwhich set a period of four months for the investigation.
According to the background of the case, Monsalve had dinner with his subordinate at a restaurant in Santiago last September. During the meeting they consumed alcohol and later went by taxi to the hotel where the former undersecretary was staying.
The complainant stated that she does not remember the events of that night, except that she woke up in the hotel bed with signs of having been sexually assaulted. Days later he filed a complaint with the authorities, providing as evidence the clothes he was wearing at the time of the events.
His arrest of Monsalve occurred hours after the victim’s father gave an interview on national television expressing his fear that the former undersecretary’s contacts in the security forces were being used to hide evidence and issue threats.
In addition to the accusations of sexual abuse, the Public Ministry investigates whether Monsalve used his position to interfere in the case, which could constitute crimes against the laws of State Security and Intelligence.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, there are indications that agents of the Investigative Police (PDI) They reviewed the hotel’s security cameras on his order and that an officer approached the victim covertly to find out his version of the events.
The former undersecretary is also under scrutiny for dispensing with his bodyguard on the night of the events, an unusual act considering that he was in interim command of the Home Office and that he faced threats related to his work against organized crime.
These events could constitute crimes against Chilean State security and Intelligence laws. as indicated by judicial sources.
The situation has generated criticism of the president’s government Gabriel Boric and the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Toháfor his handling of the case and for the prior designation of Monsalve in a position of high trust.
Monsalve, considered until recently one of the most popular and most prominent officials in the Government, now faces a judicial process that could have far-reaching political and social consequences.
(With information from EFE)
