E/CN.4/2000/9 page 43 Follow-up to previously transmitted communications 191. On 25 April 1997, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal on behalf of Johnny Pérez Torres, Andrés Serrano Leiva, Dagoberto Contreras Llanes and Guillermo Saavedra Aguilera, who were reportedly arrested and tortured in early April 1997 (see E/CN.4/1998/38/Add.1, para. 66). By letter dated 29 July 1997, the Government indicated that the case was in pre-trial proceedings closed to the public. Owing to the nature of the offences, the investigation was being carried out by both military and ordinary courts. An inspecting magistrate had been assigned to the investigation and the Under-Secretary of War had requested the State Defence Counselor to participate in the proceedings with a view to expediting them. For the above reasons, the Under-Secretary indicated that the entire proceedings were being carried out in accordance with the law, the rights of the accused were being upheld and no complaints of mistreatment had been lodged with the courts. 192. By letters dated 22 September 1997 and 29 October 1998, the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government information on alleged cases of torture in Chile. By letter dated 12 May 1998, the Government replied to the Special Rapporteur, giving the information outlined below. 193. Elvis Arturo Valdés Henríquez is reported to have been arrested and tortured on 17 February 1996 by plain-clothes police officers. They allegedly burst into his mother's apartment and beat her and Rodrigo Valdés Henríquez, a disabled person. After being transferred to the Renca barracks, he was allegedly beaten and had to be taken to the Colina treatment centre, where he was reportedly found to have numerous injuries (see E/CN.4/98/38/Add.1, para. 65). According to the Government, Mr. Valdés Henríquez was arrested together with two other persons by detectives of Renca Investigative Police Station No. 10 while trying to flee with other individuals who had allegedly attacked the detectives with knives, stones, sticks and other objects. A detective was injured as a result of the incident. Because of the struggles that occurred during the detention, Mr. Valdés Henríquez and another prisoner were found to have minor injuries when they were taken to the emergency service of San José hospital. Bladed weapons and other objects having been found on them, the three detainees were handed over to Santiago Criminal Court No. 19. In August 1996, this court ordered an investigation of allegations of torture during their detention by Department V, "Internal Affairs". The Department's report confirms the facts outlined above. It is said that on 20 January 1996, Mr. Valdés Henríquez had to have treatment at the Colina centre, where injuries different from the minor ones observed in the hospital on the day he was arrested were discovered. On 8 July 1996, a report by the forensic medical service corroborated that diagnosis. There were no indications that the new injuries might have been caused by incidents postdating his apprehension in a public place and the court dismissed the case and closed the file in July 1997. Mr. Valdés's mother has brought charges for irregularities in the search and arrest of members of her family by Department V, "Internal Affairs". This Department launched an investigation which, in April 1996, found that no member of the institution bore any responsibility, and this was endorsed by the institutional legal administration. The Government provided this information in its letter of 10 February 1999. 194. In the same letters, the cases described below were transmitted; the Government responded by letter dated 25 March 1998 (for all of these, see E/CN.4/1998/38/Add.1, para. 65).