Overview

• In May 2022, an assistant received 165 million Chilean pesos—about 330 times his 500,000‑peso monthly wage—due to a payroll error.
• After the company requested repayment, he resigned three days later without returning the funds, prompting a three‑year case.
• In September, Santiago judges dismissed the theft charge by deeming the incident an “unauthorised collection,” removing the basis for criminal prosecution and potential jail time.
• Consorcio Industrial de Alimentos de Chile says it will seek annulment of the ruling and pursue other legal avenues to recover the money.
• The dispute now moves to appeals and possible civil recovery, with coverage also pointing to wider payroll control failures highlighted by comparable cases.