The court replaced the measure with full house arrest and confirmed the ban on leaving the national territory for Jadue, leader of the Communist Party.

Preventive detention, applied on June 3, prevented Jadue from continuing to lead the municipality of Recoleta, where he was serving his third term.

During his administration he implemented a number of communal programs for social benefit, opening such services as drug store, optics clinic and a People’s Bookstore, the Rehabilitation Center, the Library Network and the Open University.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office charged him with bribery, tax evasion and committing fraud in negotiations between the Chilean Association of Municipalities and Popular Pharmacies.

Today’s resolution, “completely and thoroughly nullify all charges against him, because the new scenario proves that those crimes were never committed,” said defense attorney Juan Carlos Manríquez.

The Prosecutor’s Office voiced their disagreement over the court’s ruling and announced that it would seek to reverse it.

The case sparked a broad national and international solidarity movement, joined by hundreds of personalities.

“A grave injustice is being committed against Jadue. He paved the way for a new model of municipal action in Chile, which has been recognized even by his adversaries,” attorney, economist and writer Jorge Arrate told Prensa Latina.

The former minister also described the application of preventive detention against him as abusive, because he is being found guilty before sentencing, which is aberrant, he said. Every Saturday a caravan departed from the commune of Recoleta and reached Capitán Yáber detention center, where Jadue was held, to demand his release.

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