Bolaños asks to testify in writing in the 'Pegasus case' and the judge proposes to do so by videoconference

The Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, has informed the judge in the Pegasus case that his statement will be in writing.

This is a power that the law grants to members of the Government who are summoned to testify as witnesses.

This is stated in the official letter received this Thursday by the magistrate of the National Court

, who responds by accepting the request, although proposing to the minister that the declaration be made by videoconference "to ensure the good outcome of the case and its processing in terms of agility and usefulness".

"I. On June 6, 2022," says the Presidency's brief, "I have been summoned to testify, as a witness, in the preliminary reference proceedings on July 5, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. II. In said summons I am informed that, in accordance with the provisions of article 412.2.1 of the Law of Criminal Procedure, I will be able to report in writing the facts about which I have become aware by reason of my position. Consequently, by means of this letter I come to request that the proceeding be agreed to inform in writing about the facts that are the object of my statement.

The article invoked by the minister establishes that the members of the Government "are exempt from attending the summons of the Judge, but not from testifying, being able to report in writing on the facts of which they are aware by reason of their position."

The response order issued by Calama agrees to the petition, adding: "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the witness is suggested to practice bidirectionally and in real time the aforementioned investigative diligence to ensure the good outcome of the case and its processing in terms of agility and usefulness, with a visual, auditory, and verbal interaction with the witness, and in unity of act".

In other words, to clarify what espionage can do to the Government, an oral interrogation would be more useful than a written one.

It adds that the Supreme Court has established that the use of videoconferencing is already a common practice in court.

"It is appropriate to assess holding the testimonial statement via videoconference, offering to the Hon. Minister of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory, to declare through said means, if he wishes, indicating the dates and hours in which it could proceed in said form, without altering the functions inherent to its position".

The person in charge of the head of the

investigates the complaint filed by the

for the infection with the Pegasus spy program of the telephone of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and of the ministers

and

.

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• Margaret Oaks

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• National audience

• Justice

• Pegasus case