potentially committing criminal acts.66 After it was determined that Juan López was 17 years of age, his case was referred to the General Council of Juveniles on February 6, 1999, at which time an administrative proceeding was instituted against him for potential criminal liability for the illegal deprivation of liberty of Antonio González.67 Additionally, on March 8, 1999, a petition for constitutional relief via indirect amparo was filed before the District Court Judge of the Judicial Twentieth Circuit of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, on behalf of Antonio González, as a disappeared person since January 18 of the same year.68 D. Domestic Proceedings i. Pretrial Investigation 39. The parties’ submissions included an attached copy of the Case File of the Pretrial Investigation, which was opened based on the respective report filed by Sonia López Juárez, wife of the missing victim, on January 20, 1999 with the Municipal Court of Sabanilla, Chiapas and that continued to be processed by the Office of the Public Prosecutor. Records of the following investigative steps and evidentiary exhibits appear in said case file: i. On January 22, 1999, Octavio Cruz Pérez, Municipal Legal Counsel of the People of Sabanilla, Chiapas, appears before agent in charge of the General Directorate of Pretrial Investigations of the Office of the Public Prosecutor, of the city of Yajalón, Chiapas, bearing records of investigative steps performed and placing at the disposal of the competent authority Juan Regino López Leoporto, who is charged as the suspect responsible for the disappearance of Antonio González Méndez;69 ii. Testimonial statements about the disappearance of Antonio González Méndez, given to the Municipal Legal Counsel of Sabanilla on January 20, 1999 by Carmelino López Pérez and Rafael Cruz López,70 and confirmed under oath by them before the Assistant Public Prosecutor on January 23, 1999;71 iii. Statements of Manuel Cruz Gómez and Federico Pérez Torres, municipal police officers, who performed the arrest on a public thoroughfare on Wednesday January 20, 1999, submitted on January 23, 1999 to the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.72 iv. On January 23, 1999, the Public Prosecutor’s Office attested that the suspect did not present any visible sign of injury.73 On January 24, 1999, after examining the records, because the requirements of Article 16 of the Constitution were not met, the Agent of the Public Prosecutor’s district Office ordered Juan Regino López Leoporto’s custody order to be lifted, and he was released.74 v. On January 25, 1999, the Public Prosecutor’s Office sent a letter to the Chief of the State Judicial Police Group, Ocesingo station, Chiapas, instructing him to investigate the facts of the complaint and to find Antonio González Méndez.75 This instruction was reiterated on March 17, 1999.76 vi. On February 4, 1999, an expert medical report on Juan Regino López Leoporto’s physical integrity and clinical age was received, indicating that he represented 17 years of age.77 On that same date, and in view of the age of the suspect and that it was surmised that he had committed criminal acts, it was ordered that he should be placed at the disposal of the Juvenile Offender Protection Council.78 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 1. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. Annex 03. Case File 072/99 of the Juvenile Offender Council of the State of Chiapas, page 1. Annex 16. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 68 Annex 02. Relevant Documents from Amparo Proceeding 238/99, pg. 1. Annex 16. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 69 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 1-6. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. enero de 2008. 70 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, page 3. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 71 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 8th-9th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 72 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 9th-10th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 73 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, page 11th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 74 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 11th-12. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 75 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 12-12th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 76 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, pages 24-24th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 77 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, page 15th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 78 Annex 01. Case file of Preliminary Investigation AL41/SJI/030/99, page 16th. Annex 15. Petitioner’s Submission, January 15, 2008. 66 67 10