50 years later, justice arrives: compensation for soldier tortured at Cerro Chena June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

By: Rodolfo Varela

The Twenty-Second Civil Court of Santiago ordered the Chilean Treasury to pay $40 million in compensation for moral damages to Julio Enrique Alzamora Orellana, a former conscript soldier who was detained and tortured by his fellow soldiers in December 1973, during the military dictatorship.

22nd Civil Court of Santiago

According to the ruling (case number 15.962-2024), Alzamora was first transferred to police units and later to the Army Infantry School in Cerro Chena, in the commune of San Bernardo. There, he was held incommunicado, blindfolded, and subjected to various acts of torture, which caused him persistent psychological damage that continues to the present.

The sentence, handed down by Judge Lorena Cajas Villarroel, rejected the State's arguments regarding statutes of limitations and prior reparation, establishing that the events constitute a crime against humanity, which makes them imprescriptible in both criminal and civil courts.


"Julio Enrique Alzamora Orellana has suffered significant moral damage as a direct consequence of the acts of extreme violence inflicted against him by State agents," the ruling states. "This damage is manifested in persistent symptoms that [...] have become chronic over the years, prolonging the suffering to the present day."


The court emphasized that the amount of compensation is determined based on the particular circumstances of the case and does not follow a standardized table, although it recognizes that case law in similar cases has been considered a reasonable reference.



“ Each case […] is considered individually and autonomously ,” the ruling added. “ While the circumstances may be similar—given the historical context and the patterns of action of state agents—the truth is that each experience has its own characteristics .”

This ruling marks the first case in which the civil courts recognize the State's responsibility for human rights violations committed by agents during the dictatorship. More than half a century after the 1973 coup d'état, the victims continue to seek truth, justice, and reparation.

Posted by Rodolfo Varela