Chile’s Congress dismissed the Supreme Court judge this Wednesday Sergio Muñozafter a political trial for corruption promoted by the right-wing opposition.
“The constitutional accusation” against the judge is approved, declared the president of the Senate, José García Ruminot. Muñoz was also disqualified from holding public office for five years.
This is the first time in 31 years that Congress has removed a Supreme Court justice. Muñoz was subjected to political trial for having provided his daughter, also a judge, with privileged information for the purchase of an apartment.
The judge was also accused of dereliction of duty by covering up a trip by his daughter to Italy when he was believed to be carrying out his duties in Chile. The first complaint was approved by 27 votes to 21, and the second, by 25 votes to 23.
The Senate must also vote today on a constitutional accusation against judge Angela Vivanco, dismissed last week by the Supreme Court, and who is involved in a corruption case that affects the country’s political, economic and judicial elite.
