Chile: SCA and Sernac prepare witnesses for new Tissue Paper trial

SCA, part of the international cartel that fixed the prices of toilet and tissue paper over much of Latin America for more than a decade, rejected an agreement on the issue of compensation for consumers over said collusion. Now, reaching the evidentiary stage of the case, both the company and the National Service of Consumers (SERNAC) and the National Commission of Consumers (CONADECUS) have begun preparing their witnesses.

SCA called 18 witnesses, including executives, SERNAC officials and experts in economics. SERNAC will present 7 more witnesses, with the hearings extending until July 19 next. CONADECUS, on the other hand, will not present witnesses, concentrating on the ruling issued by the Court of Defense of Free Competition (TDLC), which condemned SCA to pay more than US$18.3 million dollars in damages.

Regarding the decision not to present witnesses, Estudio Bravo lawyer Andrés Parra indicated that this is because “the judgment (of the TDLC) establishes the facts, things judged regarding the facts, therefore, I do not have to discuss them here. ” In his opinion, presenting witnesses could lead to SCA “questioning what is already sentenced in the TDLC.” The demand from CONADECUS calls for a sanction of US $ 60 million against SCA, an amount that would directly benefit the groups of affected consumers.
Full Content: La Tercera

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