Footballer Patricio Rubio charged in Primus Capital fraud case

Patricio Rubio, a forward for Unión Española, faces formal charges for his alleged involvement in a significant fraud case targeting Primus Capital, a major factoring company in Chile. The accusation details a coordinated effort to defraud the company through simulated operations and the misuse of financial accounts.

According to reports, Rubio was indicted along with four others, including a former clinic director, a lawyer, and two businessmen. The legal complaint states that these individuals collaborated with the scheme's leaders, providing companies and false documents to facilitate fraudulent transactions with Primus Capital. Furthermore, they allegedly used both personal and corporate bank accounts to receive stolen funds, reroute portions back to the leaders, and ensure the diversion of company assets.

The prosecution estimates the total damage caused by the accused amounts to approximately 19.575 billion pesos. Of this, 1.226 billion pesos are directly linked to Patricio Rubio, stemming from the use of his identity and the reception of illicit funds through his accounts. Rubio was reportedly close to Antonio Guzmán, described as a key operational figure in the scheme.

Public prosecutors detailed that Rubio actively provided personal checks that were subsequently protested due to unregistered signatures, intended to back Guzmán's business dealings. In return, Rubio allegedly received funds derived from operations involving these falsified invoices and checks. The next court hearing is scheduled for August 6, where measures such as bail or other restrictions will be debated.