Chile 'Caravan of Death' general commits suicide [View all]
Source: BBC News
28 September 2013 Last updated at 17:22 ET
Chile 'Caravan of Death' general commits suicide
A former Chilean general and director of intelligence during Augusto Pinochet's rule has killed himself while on weekend release from prison. Odlanier Mena, who was 87 years old, was serving a six-year jail term.
The crimes were allegedly part of the "Caravan of Death" - a military operation thought to have killed more than 100 opponents of the 1973 coup.
On Thursday, President Sebastian Pinera announced plans to close the jail where Mena was being held.
A lawyer representing Mena said his client had been worried about having to be moved from Cordillera to another military facility at Punta Peuco.
Mena is said to have shot himself in the head at home on Saturday. He had been due to return to prison the following day.
At Cordillera, prisoners have access to the internet, cable TV, a tennis court, gardens and a barbecue area.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24319770
(Also at his luxury prison, 2 prisoners share bungalows, with private bathrooms, a swimming pool, and plans were underway to provide each prisoner with a personal trainer, info. published this week.)
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