Trials against CAM members and Grollmus and Rucalhue cases show uneven progress rates

Following the verdicts and sentences for the homicide of three police officers in Cañete, perpetrated almost two years ago, on April 27, 2024, and for the forgery of a public instrument and obstruction of the investigation in the Huracán case, for events that occurred in 2017 involving the planting of false evidence against Mapuche community members, currently the other ongoing cases linked to violence in the southern macrozone are three and exhibit different levels of progress.

These are the cases involving attacks on the Grollmus family and their properties, committed on October 29, 2022, in the commune of Contulmo, south of Biobío; the arrest of five members of the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM), including Pelentaro Llaitul, son of the spokesperson for that organization, carried out in November 2022 in Cholchol, La Araucanía, for their participation in multiple arson attacks on properties and machinery; and the attack on the facilities and 51 vehicles carrying out work at the Rucalhue hydroelectric project, in the mountainous commune of Santa Bárbara, Biobío, perpetrated in the early hours of April 20, 2025.

While in the first two investigations charges have already been filed and oral trials are being prepared, in the inquiries into the attack against Chinese capital in the energy production area, the proceedings, which are confidential, have not resulted in any arrests or formal charges.

That incident affected the company Rucalhue Energía SpA, a subsidiary of the conglomerate China International Water & Electric Corp CWE. A group of 12 hooded and armed individuals is believed to have been involved in the action. They threatened and tied up security guards and burned 47 trucks, a fuel container vehicle, two excavators, and a motor grader.

The Biobío Regional Prosecutor's Office responded in writing that "the investigation into the attack that occurred at the facilities of the Central Rucalhue project is currently ongoing."

It added that "the inquiries and expert examinations are continuing and are being carried out by the PDI" and that "multiple procedures have been carried out, various statements have been taken, a series of expert examinations have been conducted, and the investigation continues to develop."

Regarding the case against five members of the CAM, the La Araucanía Regional Prosecutor's Office explained the reasons for the delay in reaching the oral trial, despite the fact that the accusation, for crimes whose penalties exceed 70 years in prison, was filed two years ago.

They detailed that the hearing for the preparation of the oral trial was postponed on five occasions; and on three other occasions, the trial itself.

The regional prosecutor for that area, Roberto Garrido, confirmed the Public Ministry's readiness for a prompt trial of the accused. "This trial has been waiting for a long time. We filed the accusation in May 2024 against five members of the CAM, including Pelentaro Llaitul," he stated. "This oral trial has been suspended on several occasions and should begin in May," he said.

He added that "the delay of hearings in this type of investigation is not uncommon; rather, it reveals a litigation strategy by the defenses."

Garrido anticipated that "we continue to advance in other investigations to make the corresponding requests to the courts and thus make the charges with the evidence we have managed to gather."

21 accused for attack in Cañete

While on Thursday the Oral Criminal Court of Cañete postponed until June 23, due to a lack of judges, the start of the trial against two minors accused of participating in the attack on the Grollmus family, yesterday the preparation of the oral trial against 18 adults and a third minor accused of the same events concluded in the Guarantee Court of the same jurisdiction. It now remains to send the background information to the court of that commune so that a date for the trial can be scheduled.

Christian Grollmus, a survivor of the armed attack and subsequent fire, confirmed that the prosecution will request the merger of both judicial proceedings. "When the date for the accused adults is set, we will request that it be postponed until June 23, the date set for the trial of the minors. It makes no sense to hold two trials for the same case. That implies re-victimization and continuing to expose ourselves as a family," he argued.

For his part, the regional public defender of Biobío, Osvaldo Pizarro, announced the filing of a writ of amparo, by virtue of the Law on Criminal Responsibility of Adolescents and the deadlines for trials of minors, requesting "to set aside the resolution of the TOP and order the holding of the oral trial within a period not exceeding 10 days."

Source:El Mercurio