Arica's Prosecutor's Office formalized five former Army officials for unlawful mistreatment linked to conscript Franco Vargas' death during a military march in April 2024. The nearly eight-hour process included charges for negligence and abuse in poor conditions in Pacollo. The court postponed the decision on precautionary measures until Wednesday.
On April 27, 2024, conscript Franco Vargas died during a march from the Pacollo military facility to Putre in Arica's highlands. Prosecutors charged former military officials Claudio Guajardo (commander), Michael Fritz (captain), Bjorn Wohllk (lieutenant), Bastián Troncoso (sub-lieutenant), and Manuel Zambrano (medic corporal) with unlawful mistreatment resulting in quasi-criminal homicide, as well as serious injuries to other conscripts, including two who underwent amputations due to infections.
Vargas suffered three fainting spells during the hike, but medical attention was delayed. Prosecutor Mario Carrera outlined negligences in a semi-abandoned barracks with overcrowding, poor water quality, rat feces, and physical and psychological abuse. Guajardo failed in supervision and control of evacuation; Fritz urged continuation of the march despite Vargas' condition, scolding him for 'putting on a show'; Zambrano was not at the rear to provide timely care; Wohllk imposed punishments like dirtying trays and forcing consumption of contaminated food, leading to fainting and panic; Troncoso faces charges for involvement.
Prosecutors requested preventive detention for Guajardo, Wohllk, Troncoso, and Zambrano, and total house arrest for Fritz, stating they knew of the adverse high-altitude, weather, and stress conditions. Guajardo's defense, by Humberto Palamara, blamed higher command for omitting hypobaric exams and vaccines, but Carrera countered that the death resulted from the imputeds' inadequate response, not external factors. Fritz's lawyer, Alejandro Peña, noted the captain inquired about fitness and reprimanded Wohllk's punishments.
Plaintiff Sebastián Andrade praised the hearing for highlighting presumptions of involvement without effective rebuttals, stressing that omission-based mistreatment includes 'allowing it to happen' under state custody. The formalization took place Tuesday at Arica's Guarantee Court, postponing the decision to Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The accused were discharged from the Army.
