News

Prosecutor's Office "puts brakes" on statements by Agriculture Minister Esteban Valenzuela

Sponsors

Although Agriculture Minister Esteban Valenzuela and CONAF (National Forestry Corporation) itself confirmed that the Los Sauces fire likely started after a dispute between neighbors, the regional prosecutor of La Araucanía, Roberto Garrido, corrected the highest agricultural authority, stating that it is not their role to provide information.

"Legally and constitutionally, the body in charge of leading the investigation is the Public Prosecutor's Office and no other. In this case, we have been working very diligently in contact with Carabineros (Chilean police) and also with the Environmental Crimes Brigade of the Investigative Police," said Garrido.

"Those are not entities in charge of the investigation (CONAF), so I am unaware of what background or means they used to access this information. I am not in a position to confirm those details," he added.

"I believe it is inappropriate for other institutions, which are not responsible for the investigation, to anticipate judgment or provide information that may be inaccurate and only hinders the procedures we are carrying out," criticized the regional prosecutor.

Source:Araucania Diario