Australian Court Clears Extradition for Former Pinochet Secret Police Agent

An Australian court has cleared the extradition of Adriana Rivas, a former Pinochet secret police agent accused of aggravated kidnapping and torture in Chile.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 12:04 PM EDT

Source: BBC new

Federal Court Dismisses Final Legal Hurdles

A federal judge in Australia has ruled against Adriana Rivas, dismissing arguments from her legal team that the extradition request from Chile was legally flawed. Rivas has resided in Australia since 1978, where she lived a quiet life working as a domestic employee in Sydney. This ruling follows a decade long effort by Chilean authorities to bring her to justice for alleged crimes committed in the mid 1970s. While her defense may attempt a final appeal to the full federal court, legal experts suggest the grounds for such a move are increasingly narrow.

The Dark Legacy of the Pinochet Era

The case against Rivas is rooted in one of the most violent periods of South American history. Between 1973 and 1990, the regime of General Augusto Pinochet was responsible for the political persecution of over 40,000 individuals and the deaths of approximately 3,000 citizens. Rivas served as the personal secretary to Manuel Contreras, the head of the National Intelligence Directorate (DINA). This secret police force was notorious for hunting down, torturing, and "disappearing" political opponents to solidify Pinochet's grip on power following the 1973 military coup.

Participation in the Lautaro Brigade

Chilean prosecutors allege that Rivas was not merely a clerical staff member but an active operative within the elite Lautaro Brigade. This unit was specifically tasked with neutralizing the leadership of the Chilean Communist Party. Documentation submitted to the Australian court indicates that Rivas acted as a guard and took part in the detention of high profile victims. Among the disappeared is Víctor Díaz, the former secretary general of the Communist Party, and Reinalda del Carmen Pereira Plaza, who was 29 years old and pregnant at the time of her abduction.