Chilean denies president's involvement in financial scandal

Chilean government spokeswoman Cecilia Perez Friday denied President Sebastian Pinera is connected with what is considered to be Chile's biggest ever financial scandal. The scandal has tainted several partner corporations associated with Chilean mining group Soquimich involving illegal sales of over-valued stocks. Perez said attempts to link Pinera with the scandal are "sordid and unacceptable." Soquimich's controlling shareholder Julio Ponce Lerou, responsible for the illegal stock market operations between 2008 and 2009, claimed on Wednesday that Pinera might have also benefited from the transactions. Chile's Superintendency of Stocks and Securities has been investigating the case. It will look into administrative contracts Pinera presented on April 24, 2009.