Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN
This is the moment crawling army recruits are battered with shovels and have sand thrown at them during a cruel initiation that has led to the suspension of 14 army officials.
According to local media, the leaked footage shows members of the Chilean Army’s Third Armoured Brigade of La Concepcion taking part in the initiation in the northern Chilean region of Antofagasta.
The Chilean Army has confirmed that 14 officials have been suspended as a result.
In the video, the recruits are seen taking part in training exercises while being spanked with shovels and having water and sand thrown on them.
Reports said that 14 soldiers have been suspended because senior officers were not informed of the activity beforehand.
A military statement said: “The Chilean Army strongly condemns these acts which are contradictory to the principles and values the institution promotes.
The army added that “there are established mechanisms, procedures and protocols in place” to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
In the same statement, the authorities confirmed that those responsible were suspended 48 hours after the incident came to light.
The suspects have been “transferred to another unit and are not allowed to have contact with other soldiers during the ongoing investigation”.
According to local media, 24 recruits were forced to take part in the filmed initiation and they have since been checked by medical staff who confirmed that they are of good health.
The investigation continues.
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