Hernán Rivas begins trial over alleged falsified academic documents

The oral trial against former senator Hernán Rivas began on Monday regarding allegations of producing and using non-authentic public documents. The prosecution alleges that Rivas used false certifications to claim he completed a law degree between 2010 and 2015, despite a lack of sufficient academic records to support the claim.

According to the prosecution, these documents were allegedly used to obtain a professional license from the Supreme Court of Justice in June 2020 and subsequently influenced his appointment as a representative of the Chamber of Deputies to the Magistrates' Impeachment Jury (JEM). Prosecutors argue that while Rivas may not have personally created the documents, he allegedly promoted or induced their issuance through false information.

During the start of the debate, the Public Ministry requested the inclusion of new evidence and witnesses, including the president of the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education (ANEAES). The defense, represented by attorney Alba Zaracho, stated they would not file incidents to obstruct the process and will respond within the framework of the hearings.