Writer Tulio Mendoza faces formalization for alleged sexual abuse

Writer Tulio Mendoza is facing a formalization hearing for an alleged sexual offense after a multi-year investigation by the Concepción Public Ministry. The investigation stems from a complaint filed by a victim who was involved in literary workshops with the well-known writer from the Bío Bío Region.

The formalization hearing was originally scheduled to take place on a Friday, but the Juzgado de Garantía de Concepción suspended and postponed the proceeding because the accused could not be notified in time. The inquiry has been open for at least two years and is based on accusations from a person who is now 25 years old, relating to events that occurred during literary workshops. Preliminary reports from the tribunal note that the prosecution intends to file charges for sexual abuse, while authorities also seek to clarify the timeline of the alleged actions.

Prosecution Gathers Sufficient Grounds to Formalize Charges

During the unformalized investigation, authorities gathered approximately six statements. Ana Franco, a lawyer from the Crime Prevention Subsecretariat’s Victim Support Program representing the complainant, stated that the decision to formalize indicates the prosecution has gathered sufficient grounds.

Para que el Ministerio Público solicite una audiencia de formalización, a lo menos tienen que haber antecedentes que acrediten la existencia del delito y presunciones fundadas de responsabilidad por parte del imputado. Todo lo cual se da a la fecha y por esa razón es que se solicita la audiencia de formalización.

Franco added that the program is preparing to file a criminal complaint against the accused following the formalization, having previously represented the victim before the fiscalia and now before the tribunal.

Defense Response

Antoine Peñaloza, the attorney representing Tulio Mendoza, criticized the prosecution for proceeding with a formalization request without having previously taken a statement from his client. The defense maintains that the writer is innocent of the accusations.

Las conversaciones que hemos sostenido con mi representado es que existe la absoluta convicción de que no habría ningún antecedente con respecto a esto. Nosotros manifestamos que mi representado es inocente de los cargos que se le imputan y trataremos que en el juicio respectivo demostrar todo eso y desvirtuarlo para efecto de que sea absoelto de todos esos cargos, declared Peñaloza.

Court Reschedules Formalization Hearing for December 15

Following the postponement, the Juzgado de Garantía rescheduled the formalization hearing for December 15. The upcoming proceeding will allow the Public Ministry to formally communicate the charges to the imputado.