Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Argentine dictator jailed for 25 years

Debora Rey
Thursday 22 April 2010 00:00 BST
Comments

Argentina's last dictator has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for torture and kidnappings committed during the nation's 1976 to 1983 military regime.

Reynaldo Bignone, 82, was convicted along with five other former military officers on 56 charges involving torture, illegal detentions and other crimes in one of Argentina's largest torture centers, the Campo de Mayo military base. Human rights groups say that of the 4,000 dissidents taken there, only about 50 emerged alive.

The army-run base had a clandestine maternity centre where dissidents gave birth only to have officials take their babies away to be adopted by military families. The verdict was read out by judge Marta Milloc in an indoor stadium where many of those in attendance were family members of victims, who held up photos of their loved ones.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in