The ministers of the Fourth Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Concepción, decided to revoke the monthly signature for “El Mentolato” and decreed preventive detention for the accused of wood theft in the province of Arauco.
This after he was arrested along with two other people by Carabineros last week, being the first formalized by the new wood theft law.
It is estimated that Ormeño Gómez alias “El Mentolato” is the leader of different criminal organizations that steal wood in the area, in fact in the hearing to appeal the precautionary measures of monthly signature, national roots and prohibition to approach the Forestal Arauco property, the plaintiff attorney representing the forestry company, Enrique Hernández, provided details of the individual’s file.
Where crimes such as robbery with force, robbery with violence, drug trafficking, reception and micro-trafficking of drugs were indicated, pointing out that he was sentenced to ten years in prison, however he was granted parole in 2015.
Given this, Minister César Panes intervened to question whether the Public Ministry or the judge of first instance had considered these facts for the previously issued sentence.
This point was also emphasized by the lawyer representing the Bío Bío presidential delegation, Felipe Guerrero, arguing that the court of first instance did not consider other acts constituting a crime, including the false documents.
“The court agreed with this plaintiff regarding the seriousness of the crimes, their number, character and the fact of acting as a group-gang, in our opinion it did not consider the danger that these crimes generate for society,” Guerrero said.
From the defense of the three defendants, the lawyer Miguel Leiva indicated that only the crimes for which their defendants were arrested and for which they were formalized should be considered, and that for the same reason the record of “El Mentolato” should not be considered.
However, Ormeño Gómez will be arrested and transferred to a prison to serve preventive detention for the duration of the investigation.
As for the other detainees, both drivers of the trucks, Garcés Ríos was placed under nightly house arrest, due to a history of driving while intoxicated, and Riquelme Cuevas was kept the fortnightly signature, national roots and prohibited from approaching the Forestry. Arauco and the victims of threats.
