The Public Prosecutor's Office formally accused former Maipú mayor Cathy Barriga of four serious crimes committed during her tenure from 2016 to 2021. Prosecutors are seeking penalties totaling over 23 years in prison, plus fines and disqualification from public office. The nearly two-year investigation now proceeds to oral trial.
After nearly two years of proceedings, the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Prosecutor's Office closed the investigation against Cathy Barriga on Tuesday and requested the opening of oral trial. The former mayor faces charges of fraud against the treasury, falsification of public instruments, misappropriation of public funds, and incompatible negotiation, with an estimated damage of $33.5 million to the Maipú municipality.
Prosecutor Constanza Encina detailed specific acts during the April reformalization, such as the personal promotion of the “Fuerza de Mujer” brand using municipal resources, hiring a nanny for her son with public funds, and using communal money to contract Legal Corp for personal litigations against her and her husband, deputy Joaquín Lavín León.
The requested penalties include 10 years and one day for fraud against the treasury, seven years for falsification and use of false instruments, five years and one day for repeated misappropriation, and 541 days for incompatible negotiation. “In total, the Prosecutor's Office requested penalties ranging from five years and one day to ten years and one day for the accused crimes in a repeated manner. Additionally, fines and absolute disqualification from holding public office were requested,” the Public Prosecutor's Office stated via social media.
The defense, led by Cristóbal Bonacic, challenged the accusation. “The accusation is just that, as the Public Prosecutor's Office must prove its imputations in the respective oral trial. However, it seems extremely delicate that the Public Prosecutor's Office continues to insist on an alleged $31 million deficit when there is a technical report... that rules out financial problems for 2020 and 2021,” Bonacic said, referring to a December 2024 report commissioned by the Maipú Municipality.
The commune, led by Mayor Tomás Vodanovic, joins as a plaintiff alongside the State Defense Council (CDE). Its lawyer, José Pedro Silva, welcomed the closure of the probe: “We are very pleased that this extensive investigation has been closed and with the penalties requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office.” The court will now set the hearing for trial preparation.
