// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Corpesca case say to the judge? "You've got a 'reel' problem
The Corpesca case is a political corruption scandal in Chile involving illegal payments made by the industrial fishing company Corpesca to politicians in exchange for favorable votes on fishing legislation. The case centers on the so-called Longueira Law (2012), which concentrated a disproportionate share of Chile's fishing quotas among a small number of powerful families.
Background
[edit]The Longueira Law
[edit]In 2012, Chile enacted a fishing law promoted by then-Minister Pablo Longueira, which allocated a significant portion of the national fishing quota to companies controlled by no more than seven families. The law granted these fishing rights on an indefinite, hereditary basis. Critics argued the legislation unjustly favored large industrial operators at the expense of small-scale fishermen.
Concentration of fishing quotas
[edit]In Chile, a small number of industrial fishing companies hold the largest quotas for the extraction of species such as Merluccius australis, Chilean jack mackerel, and anchovies.[1] The Longueira Law distributed quotas among nine industrial fishing companies, leaving artisanal fishermen with only a small percentage of the total permitted harvest. Small-scale fishermen have repeatedly protested the legislation, also opposing measures such as mandatory GPS tracking of their vessels.
Corpesca and the alleged bribery scheme
[edit]Corpesca is a major industrial fishing firm, 77% owned by Grupo Angelini. The company stands accused of making illicit payments to politicians in order to secure favorable votes during the drafting and passage of the Longueira Law.[2]
These payments were allegedly facilitated through the submission of fraudulent invoices to Chile's tax authorities. In Chile, companies can generate invoices directly through the national tax service's website, a system that was allegedly exploited in this case. Individuals implicated in the invoicing scheme include:
- Carolina Zúñiga and members of her family
- Former police officers Alexis and Marcelo Ramírez Quiroz
- Bárbara Molina Ellis
- Raúl Arrieta
Politicians implicated
[edit]Jaime Orpis (UDI)
[edit]Senator Jaime Orpis of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) is accused of receiving bribes totaling 230 million CLP from Corpesca in exchange for a favorable vote on the fishing quota legislation.[3] A criminal complaint for bribery (cohecho) was filed against Orpis by the Fundación Ciudadano Inteligente.[4]
Felipe Harboe (PPD)
[edit]Felipe Harboe of the PPD party has also been named in connection with the illicit payments.[citation needed]
Senate Fishing Committee members
[edit]Deputy Hugo Gutiérrez of the Communist Party of Chile (PC) filed bribery charges against several senators who served on the Senate Fishing Committee and oversaw passage of the Longueira Law. Those charged include:
- Senator Antonio Horvath (independent) — charges were later withdrawn[5]
- Senator Fulvio Rossi
- Senator Carlos Bianchi
- Senator Alejandro García-Huidobro
- Senator Hosaín Sabag
Investigation
[edit]The Corpesca case is being prosecuted by the same team of prosecutors handling other major Chilean corruption cases, namely the SQM case and the Penta case. Sabas Chahuán serves as the National Prosecutor overseeing the investigation.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Figueroa, Juan Pablo (25 January 2012). "Los nueve dueños del mar chileno". Ciper Chile. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ Palavecino, Angélica Baeza. "Caso Corpesca: Fiscal Nacional asume investigación y ratifica a Carlos Gajardo". La Tercera. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ "Caso Corpesca: Abogado de Orpis insiste en la inocencia del senador UDI". El Mostrador. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ↑ Sanhueza, Jorge Molina. "Corpesca: Fundación Ciudadano Inteligente presenta querella por cohecho contra el UDI Jaime Orpis". The Clinic. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ↑ Matus, Javiera. "Corpesca: Hugo Gutiérrez se desiste de querella contra de senador Horvath por cohecho". La Tercera. Retrieved 1 September 2015.