Casino de Talca asks prosecutors to investigate Dreams project permits
Regulation2 min read
Casino de Talca filed a complaint asking Chile’s Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the permits and authorisations for Dreams’ new Talca casino. The complaint alleges that authorities may have received incomplete or contradictory information, including about excavation depths, but the claims have not been established. Any effect on permits or construction would require an authority or court decision.
Casino de Talca has filed a complaint asking prosecutors to investigate permits and authorisations for Dreams’ new casino project in Talca.
The project is near the Cajón del Río Claro and Estero Piduco urban wetland, and construction proceeded without the project entering the environmental impact assessment system. Juan Carlos Manríquez, the lawyer representing Casino de Talca, said the complaint seeks to establish whether authorities received all relevant information. Casino de Talca alleges that some public bodies may have received incomplete or contradictory information, but the claims have not been established.
The complaint alleges that documents submitted during the permitting process referred to excavation depths of 1.4 to 1.6 metres, while some work may have reached nearly three metres. Manríquez said the difference could be relevant to whether statements to authorities accurately reflected the planned and completed works.
The complaint refers to possible offences involving false statements or falsification of public documents, but those offences have not been established and prosecutors must assess them. It asks for scrutiny of the permitting process and the possible involvement of private individuals and public officials. Manríquez said any criminal liability would depend on what information was submitted, who supplied it, what those involved knew and what work was completed.
Law 21.595 on economic and environmental offences contains provisions that could apply to authorisations obtained using false or unlawful information. Any effect on the permits or continuation of construction would require a decision by the relevant authorities or courts.
Casino de Talca had previously filed a complaint seeking an investigation into possible environmental offences, falsehood, public or private corruption and other offences under economic crime and corporate criminal liability legislation. Talca prosecutors reportedly combined the complaints in a single case. No suspension of the works or current authorisations had been reported.