El Ciudadano
Original article: Talca: Dan de baja y formalizan a 6 carabineros acusados de formar banda criminal
Six police officers have been dismissed after being accused of forming a criminal syndicate in the city of Talca, located in the Maule Region. They were formally charged in court on Friday, June 12.
Local media reports indicate that the individuals involved include a lieutenant, a major, a second sergeant, and three corporals from the Talca Prefecture, facing charges of robbery with intimidation, burglary, criminal association, and forgery of public documents.
The investigation, conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office along with the Internal Affairs Department of the Carabineros, was initiated after the discovery of drugs and weapons inside the Eastern Precinct of Talca. This triggered a six-month secret inquiry that concluded on Friday, June 12, with the dismissal of the officers.
According to the prosecutor’s statements during the formal charging session, the now former officers are linked to at least 10 criminal activities, utilizing their «police badge» to gain entry into properties like commercial establishments, where they unlawfully seized money and items. Talca’s chief prosecutor, Héctor de la Fuente, detailed these charges.
One robbery involved a commercial establishment, where they «displayed their service weapons and illegally searched all premises, stealing approximately 12 million pesos in cash,» the prosecutor elaborated on the modus operandi of this uniformed criminal group.
The prosecutor also revealed that the officers «maliciously misrepresented the truth in the recounting of substantial facts,” as they attempted to conceal their crime by destroying security cameras and fabricating false documentation regarding the incident, claiming they were pursuing «an armed suspect» and presenting a seizure of money smaller than what they actually obtained.
Week to Forget for Police in Chile
This week has been particularly challenging for uniformed police in Chile. In addition to the six officers implicated in Talca, eight officers were arrested in Atacama for forgery; two officers in Valdivia for belonging to a criminal group involved in trafficking seafood; and five prison guards in Coquimbo for drug trafficking, as outlined by former prosecutor Carlos Gajardo on his X social media account.
«Minister Arrau, this is of utmost priority!» wrote the former prosecutor.
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