MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Court martial upholds ruling

A Chilean Army Court Martial unanimously confirmed the indictment of four servicemen from the Austral Military Region, (Magallanes) involved in the breaking in and espionage of the Argentine consulate in Punta Arenas last November 9.

The military tribunal rejected an appeal presented by the defendants of Lieutenant Colonel Victor Hugo Pozo, Major Rodrigo Acuña and Luis Robles Rius the three from the Army and Corporal Luis Espinoza from the Chilean Air Force.

They were all indicted on charges of "non fulfilment of their duties" regarding the investigation of the breaking in to the Argentine consulate.

However they are free on bail and the defending solicitors were not satisfied.

"This is merely the first leg of the criminal indictment process, and we're not satisfied. We still have to go through the military prosecutor's first presentation and we will then again request the repeal of the ruling", said solicitor Rodrigo Acuña.

Mr. Robles and Mr. Espinoza were caught red-handed by the Argentine vice consul José Basbus when they were selecting documents to photograph.

The incident forced the immediate resignation of General Waldo Zauritz, Commander of the most powerful military region in the south of Chile.

However Chilean apologies and a direct telephone communication between Presidents Ricardo Lagos and Nestor Kirchner helped to rapidly calm the tense situation.

One of the Chilean agents managed to escape but the other had to scuffle with the vice-consul before fleeing leaving behind two jackets and in one of them with an ID from one of the intruders.