Court rules for Lola Melnick in defamation case against journalist

A Chilean court has ruled in favor of former model Lola Melnick in a defamation case against journalist Laura Landaeta. The Eighth Guarantee Court in Santiago found Landaeta responsible for serious defamation, a decision that could lead to penalties including up to 541 days in jail and fines of up to 20 UTM (approximately $1,200 USD).

Melnick expressed her happiness with the verdict, stating, "I have fought for it and suffered for it. It was 22 years of lies I had to listen to and endure. Finally, justice has been done, I am very happy." She added that "justice must be done with people who do not act well." Melnick acknowledged that while many journalists in Chile are good, "others are not so much."

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I have fought for it and suffered for it. It was 22 years of lies I had to listen to and endure. Finally, justice has been done, I am very happy.

The legal dispute originated in the mid-2000s when Landaeta published a report alleging that Melnick, who is from Ukraine, had worked as a prostitute prior to her arrival in Chile. The protracted legal battle has spanned over two decades, with Melnick enduring what she described as years of falsehoods before this judicial resolution.

The court's decision marks a significant moment for Melnick, who has publicly pursued this case for many years. The outcome could have implications for journalistic reporting and the legal recourse available to public figures in Chile facing damaging allegations.

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With the people who do not act well there must be justice. There are many good journalists in this country, others not so much.