Chile Hermosilla Case Widens as Viña del Mar and Concón Registrars Become Suspects
POLITICS · CHILE
Key Facts
- —The country Chile, where the Hermosilla influence-peddling scandal has reached judges, prosecutors and politicians since a leaked audio recording surfaced in 2023.
- —What happened Property registrars Luis Fischer (Viña del Mar) and Carlos Swett (Concón) gave statements as suspects to Valparaíso prosecutors, BioBioChile reported on 2 October 2026.
- —Who is involved Former Supreme Court judge Ángela Vivanco, removed in October 2024 partly over interference in both appointments. Regional prosecutor Claudia Perivancich leads the probe.
- —What it means for you Registrars keep the official land and mortgage records. Suspect status is not a formal charge, both men remain in office and both deny seeking help.
- —Still open Whether prosecutors will seek formal charges before a judge, and what evidence they hold on the 2022–2023 appointment contests.
The Hermosilla case in Chile has reached two of the country’s property registrars. Luis Fischer (Viña del Mar) and Carlos Swett (Concón) gave statements as suspects to Valparaíso prosecutors, BioBioChile reported on 2 October.
Radio Valentín Letelier (RVL), the University of Valparaíso station, confirmed their suspect status the same day. Prosecutors are examining whether former Supreme Court judge Ángela Vivanco helped secure their appointments.
What prosecutors are examining
Property registrars, called conservadores de bienes raíces in Chile, keep the official records of land ownership and mortgages. The Justice Ministry fills each post from a shortlist voted by the regional appeals court.
The probe is led by Valparaíso regional prosecutor Claudia Perivancich, according to RVL. Mauricio Daza, a lawyer for the complainants, told BioBioChile the suspected offence is influence peddling.
The registrars’ lawyer, Juan Carlos Manríquez, said the statements were nothing new. He said both men had already given prosecutors information and documented their positions.
How the Hermosilla case reached Valparaíso
The scandal, also known as the Audios case, grew from a leaked recording of criminal lawyer Luis Hermosilla. His chats with Vivanco later led the Supreme Court to open removal proceedings against her.
The court removed Vivanco in October 2024. One charge was interference in the appointments of the Viña del Mar and Concón registrars, RVL and El Ciudadano reported.
The ruling said Vivanco admitted talking to Valparaíso appeals judges about the Concón contest. They had asked her whom to vote for. The court called her account “lacking in plausibility”.
The 2022 vote and the denials
In 2022 the Valparaíso Court of Appeals gave Fischer 14 votes for the Viña del Mar shortlist, RVL and Mala Espina Check reported. Swett came second with eight, according to RVL.
The Justice Ministry appointed Fischer in April 2023, Mala Espina Check reported. Former justice minister Luis Cordero, quoted by RVL from La Tercera, said Fischer won because he topped the shortlist.
Both registrars deny seeking help. Fischer has said he won the post on merit and test scores, and knows of no outside intervention.
Swett wrote to the investigative outlet CIPER in May 2026 that he never asked Vivanco or her partner for influence. He said he was instead pressured to withdraw from the Viña del Mar contest.
A case with many strands
The Hermosilla case keeps opening new lines of inquiry. In a separate strand, Hermosilla described regular cash deliveries, covered in Piñera Cash Payments: Chile Lawyer Hermosilla Says Aides Delivered Money Every Quarter.
BioBioChile also noted that Swett has been questioned as a suspect in a fraud probe involving Senator Camila Flores. She belongs to National Renewal (RN), a centre-right party.
The investigation shows the checks still work: the Supreme Court removed one of its own, and prosecutors are testing the appointments. Earlier context is in Chile’s Judicial Accountability Offers Lessons for Brazil’s Supreme Court Challenges.
What Is Not Yet Known
Neither man has been formally charged before a judge, a step Chilean law calls formalización. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek one, or when.
It is also unclear what evidence prosecutors hold on the two appointments. Vivanco has denied any commitment to Fischer, according to remarks reported by La Tercera and cited by RVL.
Sources: BioBioChile (2 October 2026); Radio Valentín Letelier, University of Valparaíso (2 October 2026); El Ciudadano (2 October 2026) and Mala Espina Check (September 2024).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief