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House Arrest for Defendant Accused of Timber Theft and Environmental Damage in Quillaipe

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• An individual faces multiple charges for timber theft and damage to native forests, receiving less severe precautionary measures than those requested by the Prosecutor's Office.

A suspect accused of repeated timber theft, use of false documents, illegal logging of native trees, encroachment on state-owned land, and clandestine trade has been placed under total house arrest and national confinement. The court's decision, which also includes an order to vacate a property belonging to the National Assets in Quillaipe within three days, was made despite the Prosecutor's Office's request for pretrial detention.

Prosecutor Daniel Alvarado, from the Criminal Analysis Unit of the Los Lagos Regional Prosecutor's Office, detailed that the formalization of the investigation took place yesterday. He revealed that the defendant, a resident of the Piedra Azul area in Puerto Montt, has been illegally exploiting native forests through a clear-cutting system, causing significant destruction and hindering ecosystem renewal. Additionally, a further investigation is anticipated for a potential environmental crime due to the impact on local aquifers.

The Prosecutor's Office, dissatisfied with the imposed precautionary measure, plans to appeal to the Puerto Montt Court of Appeals to seek pretrial detention for the accused.

Presidential Delegate Giovanna Moreira emphasized that timber theft is a crime prioritized by the Regional Council Against Organized Crime and reminded that National Assets lands belong to all Chileans. She highlighted that recent regulatory changes have strengthened the tools available for prosecuting these crimes.

Meanwhile, Subprefect Sergio Castro, head of the PDI Theft Investigation Brigade, reported that the affected property, spanning approximately 200 hectares, was targeted by an individual posing as its owner, causing considerable environmental damage to species such as mañío, canelo, coigüe, and luma. The police operation led to the suspect's arrest and the seizure of evidence, including chainsaws and a portable sawmill.

Miguel Leiva, Regional Director of CONAF, stated that the damage to the heritage amounts to around $200 million and that the affected area covers 2.9 hectares. He noted that managing native forest logging requires a management plan and that the Timber Usurpation Law classifies such actions as a crime.