Judge Garzón issues prison sentence for ex-military prosecutor arrested in Spain

SANTIAGO.- According to Radio Digital FM and the Diario Austral de Temuco, the judge presiding over Spain´s Fifth Court of Instruction, Baltasar Garzón, has ordered that the former Military Prosecutor of Cautín, 83 year-old Alfonso Podlech Michaud, be taken to the Spanish prison Soto Real, to wait for his extradition to Italy.

Podlech, an attorney from Temuco, was apprehended this past Sunday at the Barajas Airport in Madrid, where he was attempting to travel to the Czech Republic with his wife.  His arrest was ordered based on an international warrant in connection with the disappearance of former Italian priest Omar Venturelli in 1973.

Podlech´s family has hired Spanish attorney Inés Cáceresto represent him and preside over the extradition process that will begin in Spain.

Things may become even more somber for Podlech, since he is also mentioned as one of those responsible for the disappearance of a French citizen, Etienne Pesle, in the city of Temuco during 1973.