The details regarding the suicide of Luis Mella Peñaloza, a retired non-commissioned officer who was being prosecuted for his involvement in cases of human rights violations, are being kept confidential at the request of the First Military Prosecutor's Office of Santiago.

The Homicide Brigade of the PDI confirmed yesterday afternoon the death of a retired non-commissioned officer of the Carabineros, Luis Mella Peñaloza, 63, who was being held at the Sucre transitional detention center, having been prosecuted for cases of human rights violations.

The details of the case are being kept confidential at the request of the First Military Prosecutor's Office of Santiago, although PDI sub-commissioner Pedro Castillo confirmed that the officer's death was by hanging inside the facility. "Inside the Sucre detention and transit center of the Carabineros de Chile, the lifeless body of a retired non-commissioned officer of that institution was found.

Regarding the forensic examinations carried out at the scene, it was established that the victim died as a result of suicide by hanging. We were also able to interview witnesses and the personnel guarding him; this information will be made available to the First Military Prosecutor's Office of Santiago," Castillo told Radio Cooperativa.

The personnel at the detention center in charge of the detainee's custody notified their superiors and medical staff upon discovering the death. Mella reportedly left a farewell letter to his family, in which he explained the motives for the suicide and reiterated his alleged innocence. The details are being investigated by the Military Prosecutor's Office.

Source: theclinic.cl, November 17, 2014

Former Carabineros non-commissioned officer committed suicide in police detention center

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Country | Police Former Carabineros non-commissioned officer committed suicide in police detention center He was being prosecuted for cases of human rights violations. The incident occurred at the Sucre transitional detention center.

The PDI Homicide Brigade confirmed the death of the former officer. The PDI Homicide Brigade confirmed the death of a retired non-commissioned officer of the Carabineros, identified as Luis Mella Peñaloza, 63, who was being held at the police institution's Sucre transitional detention center, prosecuted for cases of human rights violations.

The details of the case are being kept confidential at the request of the First Military Prosecutor's Office of Santiago, although PDI sub-commissioner Pedro Castillo confirmed that the death occurred by suicide by hanging on the premises of the facility. "Inside the Sucre detention and transit center of the Carabineros de Chile, the lifeless body of a retired non-commissioned officer of that institution was found," said Castillo. "Regarding the forensic examinations carried out at the scene, it was established that the victim died as a result of suicide by hanging, and we were also able to interview witnesses and the personnel guarding him; this information will be made available to the First Military Prosecutor's Office of Santiago," the sub-commissioner explained. The guard personnel of the transitional detention center, in charge of the detainee's custody, noticed the situation, after which they notified their superiors and paramedic staff. Meanwhile, Alicia Lira, president of the Association of Relatives of Political Executions, stated that "for us, any death is regrettable, whoever it may be, because the relatives or the victims who experienced state terrorism in this country learned to love life, to respect it." "That this person took his own life is something we regret for his family, but it does not seem to us to be the appropriate attitude when justice is judging him for crimes and human rights violations. Not answering to it and ending his life does not seem correct to us," added the leader. A farewell letter from the deceased explaining the reasons for his decision was also found at the scene, and this information has been handed over to the Military Prosecutor's Office for investigation.

Source: cooperativa.cl, November 16, 2014