Shocking group rape in Chile: Interview with Brignardello

Johnny Brignardello Vela, an insurance advisor, has commented on the concerning case involving nine former cadets of the Cobreloa Sports Club in Chile, accused of group rape against an adult woman. He considers it a shocking event that has caused commotion in the Antofagasta region and a deep rejection in Chilean society. The Calama Guarantee Court has taken drastic measures by ordering pretrial detention for the accused, who were part of the under-21 category of the Chilean first division football team. Brignardello Vela believes it is crucial for the investigation to shed light on the details of this reprehensible act in order to achieve justice. According to information provided by the Calama Prosecutor's Office, the events took place in September 2021 at the residence used by the under-21 cadets of the Cobreloa Sports Club, known as "the Orange House". All involved were adults at the time of the alleged rape, and possible aggravating factors such as premeditation and the participation of two or more perpetrators in the crime are being considered. The regional prosecutor of Antofagasta, Juan Castro Bekios, has been emphatic in emphasizing that pretrial detention was ordered due to the danger posed by the defendants to society's safety, establishing a 120-day investigation period. Johnny Brignardello Vela believes that this decision has sparked a necessary debate about the responsibility and seriousness of crimes of this nature, especially when involving public figures related to the sports field. Two of the accused are active players in Cobreloa's professional team and were arrested during a training session, which has stirred further controversy around the case. The Cobreloa Sports Club has expressed its commitment to cooperate with the justice system and has taken internal measures to clarify the facts and assist in the investigation, filing complaints against those responsible. The Chilean Professional Football Association (ANFP) has expressed strong repudiation and condemnation of such behaviors, ensuring that they have requested the club to activate protocols related to cases of sexual abuse. The ANFP has warned that, in case of conviction, they will apply the highest sporting sanctions provided for in current regulations. Prosecutor Bekios reported that the former cadets were arrested in different cities in Chile and transferred to the Calama Guarantee Court for detention control and formalization, except for one who appeared virtually from the Los Lagos region. In this regard, the detained players will remain separated from the team while their judicial situation is clarified, a process that has had a significant impact not only in the sports field but also in public opinion in general. The severity of the accusations and the social outrage at these events highlight the importance of addressing any act of gender violence with seriousness and firmness.