07.04.2025 11:30
Judge Mariel Suarez, who serves in the Chubut province of Argentina, was caught on security cameras kissing a prisoner convicted of killing a police officer. Suarez had been part of the panel of judges that decided whether the inmate Cristian Bustos would receive a life sentence just a week prior. Bustos was found guilty of murdering police officer Leandro 'Tito' Roberts in 2009.
Judge Mariel Suarez, who serves in the Chubut province in southern Argentina, was caught on prison security cameras kissing a convict who killed a police officer.
According to a statement from the Chubut High Court, Judge Suarez was seen in intimate moments with Cristian Bustos, who was sentenced to life in prison, at the prison in the city of Trelew. Security cameras recorded the moment they kissed.
What made the incident even more surprising was that Suarez had been part of the panel of judges that decided just a week earlier whether Bustos would receive a life sentence. Among the three-judge panel, Suarez was the only one to oppose the life sentence for Bustos, who was described as "extremely dangerous."
Convict Bustos was found guilty of killing police officer Leandro "Tito" Roberts in 2009. Roberts was shot while attempting to arrest Bustos after a previous prison escape. In the incident, Bustos's brother was also killed, and a police officer was injured.
A spokesperson for the Chubut High Court stated, "The investigation will determine how long the meeting lasted, its nature, and whether there were violations of the Public Ethics Law and judicial regulations."
Following the revelation of the incident, an administrative investigation was launched against Judge Suarez on the grounds of "inappropriate behavior." Suarez may face various sanctions, including disbarment, as a result of the investigation.
The judge at the center of the scandal has not yet made a statement regarding the incident.