Trial Delay
Court absolves defendants in SQM case after 11-year process
Santiago's Third Oral Criminal Court acquitted eight defendants in the SQM case by majority, including former senator Pablo Longueira and candidate Marco Enríquez-Ominami, criticizing the process's length and the prosecution's evidence quality. The verdict highlights a violation of the right to a timely trial after 11 years of investigation and a three-year trial. The sentence will be delivered in August 2026, leaving room for a nullity appeal.