Uruguayan Prosecutors Seek 15-Year Prison Terms for Military Torture Cases

In a groundbreaking move, Ricardo Perciballe, the special prosecutor for Crimes Against Humanity, has requested severe penalties for a group of retired military personnel implicated in numerous cases of human rights abuses that took place during the dark days of Uruguay’s dictatorship. Specifically, Perciballe has asked for 15 years and six months of imprisonment for Óscar Mario Roca, Ivo Morales, and Abel Pérez, who stand accused of repeated offenses, including unlawful detention, abuse of authority, and infliction of severe injuries on detainees. These atrocities, which affected 11 individuals, occurred between 1980 and 1984 within the walls of the 9th Infantry Battalion in Fray Bentos.

The prosecutor’s requests don’t stop there. For Héctor Caubarrere and Jorge Soloviy, two other retired military officials, Perciballe is seeking sentences of 14 years and six months, also for charges related to deprivation of liberty, abuse of power, and grave harm to detainees. Meanwhile, Daniel Castellá and Rodolfo Costas are facing potential sentences of 13 years and six months for similar offenses, underscoring the widespread nature of the abuses. Luis Estebenet, another defendant, is looking at a possible 11 years and six months behind bars, should the prosecution’s recommendations be accepted. Eduardo Saiz, on the other hand, might receive a 13-year sentence, in line with the gravity of his alleged crimes.

At the heart of this case are the harrowing experiences of Uruguayan citizens from San Javier, who were subjected to torture under the military dictatorship. The regime had posited a supposed link between the local Russian community and the Soviet Union, theorizing that detainees were connected to an alleged arms shipment set to arrive in San Javier via a Russian submarine. This narrative, however, has been thoroughly debunked by the prosecution, which concluded that the entire operation was a carefully crafted plan devised by the country’s Intelligence and Defense Service. The meticulous investigation conducted by the Fiscalía has shed light on the systematic violations of human rights that occurred, paving the way for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.