An Argentinian judge is currently being investigated after she was allegedly caught on camera kissing inmate who has been convicted of murdering a police officer.
The judge in question, Mariel Suarez, had also been on a judging panel where she had argued that Cristian Mai Bustos should receive a reduced sentence, instead of life in prison.
Suarez, however, denies these allegations and insists that she was only asking Bustos questions for a book she is writing.
The alleged incident occurred in the Provincial Penitentiary Institute of Trelew, where he judge was firstly seen on camera drinking a beverage before the supposed kissing began.
In the footage, Suarez appears to take a selfie with Bostas as they both seemingly look into her phone camera and pose.
A court, whose sentencing team included Suarez, had handed Bustos a life term on 22nd December for the murder of police officer 'Tito' Roberts in the village of Corcovado in 2009.
The moment seen in this video footage took place on 29th December, only a week after the life sentence was handed down.
On the incident, Suarez addressed Argentinian news website Todo Noticias and denied that anything unprofessional occurred.
The judge stated: “We were talking and felt we were being listened to. They were secret talks and there were people walking nearby and a camera and that’s why we talked close-up.”
She then added: “I don’t have any sentimental relationship with this person. I’m writing a book on him. Our relationship is a working relationship.
“I believed the version of events he gave at his trial and that’s why I voted for a lesser punishment than life imprisonment.”
The Superior Court of Justice of Chubut has now opened administrative proceedings into the judge's behaviour, alleging that she engaged in inappropriate behaviour with the recently convicted man.
A statement was also released a statement by the court regarding the incident, in which it described the inmate as a 'highly dangerous' man.
The court will now determine whether the judge violated the Public Ethics Law or the judiciary's internal regulations.
Frankie Golding