Lectures: 9
The Oral Criminal Court of San Bernardo has issued a historic sentence condemning two officers of the Carabineros to 12 years in prison for the crime of very serious serious injuries on the occasion of unlawful coercion. The events occurred during the social crisis, specifically on the night of October 23, 2019, in the Buin commune. The victim, Mario Acuña, suffered a brutal beating that left permanent scars and an inability to care for himself. In addition, the court sentenced a third uniformed officer to intensive probation.
The case and the sentence
The court determined that a group of police officers committed various illegal acts in Bajos de Matte with Los Olmos in Buin, during that fateful night. The HJCV and VALM officials located Mario Acuña Martínez and, after ordering him to get down on the ground, they brutally beat him. The consequences of this act were trauma to the brain and cranial nerves, trauma to the nerves and spinal cord, and a severe TBI. The beating left functional, permanent and definitive sequelae in the victim, with a total disability for work and the incapacity for self-care.
In addition to the effective prison sentence, the convicted officials will face perpetual absolute disqualification for public offices and offices, as well as the loss of political rights and absolute disqualification for regular professions during the time of the sentence. Although the courts recognized the 871 days of preventive detention that they had already served, this ruling sends a clear message about intolerance towards abuses of power and police violence in the country.
A second case examined by the court
The former JRRA captain was convicted of a separate act, in which he used his riot shotgun to injure two protesters. The shots hit a man in the leg and a woman in the abdominal area, causing minor injuries. For this act, the court imposed a sentence of 3 years and one day in prison, in addition to perpetual disqualification from political rights and disqualification from public office or office during the time of the sentence. However, the custodial sentence was replaced by intensive probation for the same term as the sentence.
The conviction of the police officers responsible for the brutal beating during the social crisis represents a significant step in the search for justice and accountability. The court’s ruling sends a clear message about the importance of eradicating police violence and ensuring that law enforcement officers fulfill their duty to protect the public, rather than abuse their power. Chilean society hopes that this type of exemplary sentence will help prevent future acts of police violence and promote respect for human rights at all times. Justice must prevail to build a more just and equitable society for all its citizens.
