Penal - Rol N° O-198-2019

The case involves the prosecution of Francisco Hernández Sanhueza by the Public Ministry in Arica for drug trafficking of small quantities, under Article 4 in relation to Article 1 of Law 20.000. The alleged facts occurred on January 9, 2019, when police observed a drug transaction outside Hernández Sanhueza's residence and subsequently found drugs and cash inside. The prosecution sought a sentence of 5 years of minimum imprisonment. The defense requested acquittal, arguing that the accused was a drug user and that his involvement in the sale was not clearly established. The court considered evidence from both sides, including testimonies supporting the accused's addiction, and ultimately found reasonable doubt regarding his culpability. The key factors for the acquittal were the inability to definitively prove the accused sold drugs to another individual, discrepancies in drug packaging, the small quantity of drugs found (1 gram net) being consistent with personal use, and the lack of continuous surveillance between the transaction and the raid. Consequently, Francisco Nicanor Hernández Sanhueza was acquitted of the charges. No costs were imposed on the Public Ministry, and any precautionary measures were ordered to be lifted.

• Datos básicos del caso: * Tribunal: Tribunal de Juicio Oral en lo Penal de Arica. * RUC: 1900039470-2 * RIT: 198-2019 * Fecha: 09 de agosto de 2019. * Tipo de procedimiento: Juicio oral para conocer la acusación del Ministerio Público.

• Hechos acreditados: * El 09 de enero de 2019, aproximadamente a las 19:00 horas, la policía vigiló el domicilio de Nombre en Pasaje Wenceslao Vargas Nº 3743, Arica. * Observaron a Nombre comprar tres papelillos de droga a través de otra persona en las afueras del inmueble por $3.000. * Al fiscalizar a Nombre, la policía encontró tres envoltorios con pasta base de cocaína (0,5 gramos brutos, 0,2 gramos netos, concentración mínima del 5%). * Median...