The Mulchén Criminal Court indicted Carabineros captain Jorge Maturana for the kidnapping of a student in that city on September 22, 1973. This concerns the case of Gabriel Lara Espinoza, a third-year high school student and member of the Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR), who was detained by a group of Carabineros.

In addition, the court indicted civilians Samuel Arriagada and Roll Müiren for the kidnapping of José Orellana, the son of a laborer at the "Berdún" estate in the same commune, as reported by Radio Bío Bío. The Mulchén Criminal Court is processing five human rights cases: four for presumed disappearance and one for illegal burial.

Source: El Mostrador, April 28, 2003

Mulchén judge indicts former Carabineros officer for human rights violations

The former officer is the former head of the Mulchén Carabineros station, Captain (ret.) Jorge Maturana, who was indicted for his responsibility in the disappearance of 17-year-old student Gabriel Lara Espinoza.

The Mulchén Court today indicted a former Carabineros officer and two civilians for their participation in human rights violations that occurred in the Bío Bío province, Eighth Region, during the military regime.

The former officer is the former head of the Mulchén Carabineros station, Captain (ret.) Jorge Maturana, who was indicted for his responsibility in the disappearance of 17-year-old student Gabriel Lara Espinoza.

The other two defendants are civilians Samuel Arriagada and Roll Muren, for the kidnapping of José Orellana, the son of a laborer at the Verdún estate. The latter two have already been indicted for the kidnapping of Jorge Narváez Salamanca, a 17-year-old youth who was executed by firing squad and thrown into the waters of the Bío Bío River on September 28, 1973.

It should be noted that the Mulchén Criminal Court is processing five cases related to human rights violations during the military regime, three of which have seen significant progress in the investigation.

Source: El Mercurio, April 28, 2003