The president of National Renewal, Francisco Chahuán, addressed this afternoon in the National Congress the complaints against the former mayor of Vitacura, Raúl Torrealba (RN), for alleged irregularities in the Vita programs (municipal development programs) under his management.
“We are going to ask that the complaint that has been raised be investigated to the last consequences. Of course, once we collect each and every one of the antecedents, the RN board of directors will make a decision regarding the militancy of former Mayor Torrealba,” said Senator Chahuán.
“National Renewal believes that probity and transparency should be the cornerstone of the exercise of public office. We also believe in the principle of innocence and hope that the institutions will work and that we will be able to clarify all the background. Once this is advanced, the National Renewal board will take the necessary measures,” added the RN helmsman.
Background
The current mayor of Vitacura, Camila Merino (Evópoli) announced on August 18, in the Municipal Council, the detection of irregularities in the Vita programs during the torrealba administration. In the instance, Merino said that at the end of July he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office.
It also requested an audit of all grants over the past four years and all functional organizations administering the programs. Among them are Vita Deportes, Vita Emprende, Vita Paz, Vita Salud and the Local Sports Council, slogan La Tercera PM.
After the complaint, the PDI raided the Municipality of Vitacura and the home of Raúl Torrealba.
In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office of High Complexity Metropolitan East collected a compromising testimony against the former communal chief of Vitacura.
Antonia Larraín (45), niece of Domingo Prieto -former president and legal representative of the Local Council of Sports, Vita Salud and Vita Deportes and accused-, official for 16 years in the building house, and who since July 2018 assumed the Directorate of Community Development, witnessed the delivery of cash for Torrealba.
“Every year, for the week of Chileanity, she received from Mr. Prieto a sum of variable money, close to $ 3,000,000, to manage and spend on issues of that celebration, however, normally there were sums close to $ 1,000,000 that she had to deliver in cash to the incumbent mayor Raúl Torrealba, “- indicates a document from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
