Former Puerto Natales Mayor Sentenced to Five Years for Bribery in LED Luminarias Case
José Fernando Paredes Mansilla, the former mayor of Puerto Natales, has been sentenced to five years and one day of effective imprisonment for the crime of bribery. This conviction is part of the ongoing 'LED Luminarias case.' The Criminal Court of Punta Arenas also imposed a fine of 30 million Chilean pesos and accessory penalties, including perpetual disqualification from holding public office or working with state-contracting entities. The court determined that Paredes Mansilla must serve his sentence effectively, as he does not meet the criteria for a substitute penalty. The sentence accounts for 739 days he spent in preventive detention during the legal proceedings. However, the former mayor was acquitted of the charge of violating secrets, which had also been brought by the Public Ministry. The case revolves around a public lighting replacement program initiated by the Ministry of Energy, involving private companies through bidding processes. The court found that between May and July 2019, León Marce...
