The Public Ministry confirmed this Friday the capture of four people in the Copán department, among them the former alternate deputy of the Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), Víctor Hugo Romero Chinchilla, who is being investigated for his alleged intellectual participation in a homicide and an attempted homicide recorded in the west of the country.
The operation was carried out by agents of the Technical Agency of Criminal Investigation (ATIC) in coordination with the National Police, as part of an investigation that the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Life had been developing for several months.
According to the authorities, the arrests represent a significant breakthrough in the investigations related to a criminal act that left one person dead and another seriously affected in the department of Copán.
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Four people were captured
Along with the former congressman, Emérito Carvajal Gómez, known by the alias “El Tello,” Nelson Melgar, and Josué Baltazar Aranda were arrested.
The arrests were carried out through simultaneous operations conducted in different parts of the department of Copán, where investigators executed judicial orders issued by the competent courts.
In addition to the arrests, authorities carried out raids on several properties linked to the suspects, with the aim of collecting evidence to strengthen the investigative process.
During the proceedings, inspections and seizures of assets related to the case were also carried out. Víctor Hugo Romero Chinchilla must appear in court after being accused of participating in a homicide and attempted homicide case recorded in Copán. (PHOTO: El Heraldo)
Investigation relates to homicide and attempted homicide
According to the indictment filed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the detainees are being investigated for their alleged participation in the events that caused the death of Mario José Chacón and left Miguel Ángel Villela as a victim of attempted homicide.
The authorities maintain that the investigation has allowed for the identification of evidence linking the suspects to the planning and execution of the events that occurred in the western part of the country.
According to the hypothesis proposed by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Life, the former alternate deputy is allegedly one of the masterminds behind the crime.
However, it will be up to the courts to determine the individual liability of each of those involved as the judicial process progresses.
Public Ministry confirms progress in the case
The spokesperson for the Public Ministry, Yuri Mora, explained that the operation is the result of an exhaustive investigation carried out over several months by specialized prosecutors and investigators.
“These individuals have been captured as a result of an investigation by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Life regarding a homicide that occurred in the western part of the country. According to the investigations, the former alternate deputy is allegedly one of the masterminds behind the homicide and the attempted homicide of another person”, stated Mora.
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The spokesperson also indicated that the operation remains active and that the authorities continue to carry out proceedings to strengthen the investigative file.
Properties linked to the case are seized
As part of the actions carried out this Friday, investigators conducted raids and seizures of several properties related to the former congressman.
The authorities did not provide details on the exact amount of assets seized because the investigation is still ongoing.
However, they pointed out that the proceedings seek to collect documentation, records, and other elements that may provide relevant information to clarify the facts under investigation.
The seized assets will remain under the control of the authorities while the corresponding judicial proceedings are carried out. The former substitute deputy for Isis Cuéllar is accused of his alleged participation in attempted homicide and in the murders of Mario José Chacón and Miguel Bonilla.
Suspects will be referred to the courts
The Public Ministry informed that the four detainees will be placed at the disposal of the competent courts so that they face the corresponding judicial process.
In the coming hours, the initial hearings will take place where the precautionary measures to be complied with while the investigations proceed will be determined.
The authorities also indicated that new arrests or prosecutorial requirements are not ruled out as new evidence is incorporated into the file. Víctor Hugo Romero Chinchilla, a former substitute deputy for the Libre party, was captured in Copán after being accused by the Public Prosecutor’s Office as the alleged mastermind of a homicide and an attempted homicide.
Ongoing open research
Research organizations keep several lines of work open aimed at determining if there are more people involved in the events.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Life continues to analyze documentary, testimonial, and technical evidence obtained during the months the investigation has lasted.
The case has generated public attention because it involves a figure linked to the political sphere and crimes against life, considered among the most serious within Honduran legislation.
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Meanwhile, the authorities reiterated that the process continues in the investigative stage and that it will be the justice system in charge of determining the responsibility of the accused based on the evidence presented during the trial.
With these captures, the Public Ministry claims to have taken an important step in clarifying the case, although investigations continue to determine if there were other participants in the planning or execution of the events that occurred in Copán.
