Main jailed in torture of Chile president’s father is freed

SANTIAGO, Chile – A judge is ordering the release of one of two military officers serving a sentence for torturing Chilean President Michele Bachelet’s father who died in their custody.

Gen. Alberto Bachelet died in prison in 1974 after Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship convicted him of being a traitor.

A forensic study found that the elder Bachelet probably died of heart problems caused by torture after he was arrested for opposing the 1973 military coup that overthrew socialist President Salvador Allende.

A court source on Tuesday confirmed Edgar Cevallos Jones’ release after psychiatric tests showed he was mentally ill. He was sentenced in 2016 to four years and will serve the remainder under house arrest.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.