(IPYS/IFEX) – Carlos Pinto, journalist and host of the programme “El día menos pensado”, broadcast on the Television Nacional (TVN) station, and the station’s former executive director, René Cortázar, are facing charges for insult. The case against them was admitted by Judge Carmen Garay of the Nineteenth Santiago Criminal Court. A complaint against the two […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Carlos Pinto, journalist and host of the programme “El día menos pensado”, broadcast on the Television Nacional (TVN) station, and the station’s former executive director, René Cortázar, are facing charges for insult. The case against them was admitted by Judge Carmen Garay of the Nineteenth Santiago Criminal Court.
A complaint against the two individuals was filed by Alejo Véliz Palma, a businessman in the construction industry, who felt that an incident showcased on the programme “El día menos pensado” was alluding to him.
The lawyer for the plaintiff, Esteban Vilches, informed “La Tercera” daily that on the 15 June 2000 episode of “El día menos pensado”, called “El pasajero de la 11” (“Passenger on number 11”), Pinto related a story based on statements by supposed clairvoyant Susan Velishko.
The episode presented the case of the death of the plaintiff’s wife, Graciela Quilodrán Olivares, who committed suicide in Tocopilla (a city in northern Chile) on 14 December 1970. According to one of Velishko’s supposed “visions”, Quilodrán had not committed suicide but was murdered by her husband.
“El día menos pensado” presented a dramatic recreation of the vision Velishko had in 1979, while she was staying in room no. 11 of the Tocopilla hotel, where Quilodrán died. Velishko claims that while she was staying at the hotel she began to sense strange things and could not fall asleep. The self-professed clairvoyant had an out-of-body experience and witnessed a woman being murdered by her husband. Some time later, Velishko realised that Véliz’s wife had died in that room, although the official explanation was suicide.
The complaint for insult was filed based on the scenes recreated for “El día menos pensado”. However, as the programme’s executive producer, Cristobal del Río, informed “La Tercera”, the actual names and places did not appear on the programme. Questioned by the Nineteenth Criminal Court in connection with the case for insult, the clairvoyant stated that she identified the plaintiff in her dream. She did not, however, accuse him of the crime.
After the programme was aired, the plaintiff told a number of dailies that he felt personally attacked and filed the complaint for millions of pesos against TVN and Carlos Pinto. At the same time, he denied having had anything to do with his wife’s death. The programme’s executive producer noted that he finds it odd that Véliz did not file a complaint against Velishko, when she was the one who brought forth the incriminating evidence.
The alleged crime is publicised insult, as per Article 412 and other articles of the Criminal Code.
This is “El día menos pensado”‘s third season on TVN and the programme’s ratings have been high. During each episode, a dramatic recreation of a paranormal case is presented.
Recommended Action
Send letters of support to:
Carlos Pinto
E-mail: rrpp@tvn.cl
Send appeals to Judge Garay:
– condemning the case filed against Pinto and TVN
Appeals To
Judge Carmen Garay
Nineteenth Santiago Criminal Court
España 503
Santiago, Chile
Tel: +56 2 689 7209
Fax: +56 2 689 1061
Send appeals to the government’s secretary general:
– calling for the repeal of all prison sentences for crimes related to the expression of information and opinion
Appeals To
Heraldo Muñoz
Secretary General of the Government
Palacio de La Moneda
Santiago, Chile
Fax: +56 2 699 1657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
