June 21, 2026 at – 08:00
Sentencing Judge Dina Marchuk, who recently sparked controversy by saying “no cry” to former senator Kattya González (independent) for questioning Minister Carolina Llanes, appears in the MEC records with a degree issued by the Universidad Sudamericana, an institution today under scrutiny for the scandal of the alleged massive issuance of false degrees.
The sentencing judge Dina Marchuk Santacruz appears in the registry of titles of the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) with a certification corresponding to the Criminal Sciences career, where he obtained the specialist title, issued by the South American Universityas stated in resolution No. 3310 dated December 23, 2016.
The appearance of the judge’s name in the records of the university institution occurs in the midst of the scandal that surrounds the Universidad Sudamericana, questioned for the alleged irregular issuance of degrees that are currently the subject of review and investigation in the recently created “anti-mafia” commission of false degrees, of the Senate.
The case becomes relevant because Marchuk was the protagonist of a public controversy after responding with the phrase “without crying” to the former senator. Kattya Gonzalez (independent), who had questioned the minister of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), Carolina Llanesfor his position regarding the unconstitutionality action filed against his expulsion from the Senate.
The sentencing judge specialized in Organized Crime generated criticism after commenting on an ABC publication about González’s statements against Minister Llanes.
“No crying please and let’s talk with legal arguments!” Marchuk wrote in the comments of a post on Instagram, in response to the former legislator’s expressions.
González had harshly questioned the arguments of Llanes, who along with other ministers of the Court rejected the action promoted by the former senator against her departure from the Upper House.
Read more: “Without crying” judge responds to Kattya González for criticism against Minister Llanes
The judge’s public intervention generated questions from social media users, who questioned whether it was appropriate for a judge to issue an opinion of that tone on a political and judicial controversy.
The link that confronted Kattya González and Hernán Rivas
The new information about Marchuk’s degree also appears in a context marked by the complaint that Kattya González herself had filed against her then colleague in the Senate, Hernán Rivas, for an alleged irregular university degree from the Sudamericana.
The investigation into Rivas’s title continues in Justice and had the political consequence of a resignation from his bench, after a dismissal in the case was annulled and the former senator finally had to step down from office.
Read more: “You have no shame,” Kattya tells Carolina Llanes about “advice” to judges and prosecutors
The Rivas case became one of the main antecedents of the public debate on the existence of possible irregularities in the issuance and use of professional titles.
South American University under investigation
The Universidad Sudamericana was at the center of the controversy after complaints about an alleged massive issuance of degrees that are the subject of analysis by the authorities.
Marchuk is a member of a Sentencing Court specialized in Organized Crime, a body that intervenes in processes considered sensitive because they involve cases related to corruption, money laundering and other highly complex crimes.
