The court considered as inadmissible a last defense appeal to postpone the process, so Yáñez will have to leave office and appear in court on October 1.

The formalization against the top chief of the militarized police was requested in January by the North Central Regional Prosecutor’s Office, in charge of Xavier Armendariz, for the crime of omission ‘of illegitimate apprehension resulting in serious injuries and homicide’ that occurred during the 2019 protests.

Yañez served as head of Order and Security of Carabineros, during the government of Sebastián Piñera (2018-2022), and was subsequently promoted to the highest position in the institution.

The indictment also extends to the former director of Carabineros, Mario Rozas, and the former deputy director, Diego Olate, both retired generals.

During the social outburst, from October 2019 through March 2020, the police indiscriminately used shotguns loaded with highly injurious ammunition, which killed 30 people and injured thousands, leaving more than 400 with eye trauma.

Ied/abo/rgh/car