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Jail sentences for ex Ford executives for collaborating with Argentine military regime

Wednesday, December 12th 2018 - 07:14 UTC
Full article 3 comments
Factory manager Pedro Muller was sentenced to 10 years and ex-security chief Hector Sibilla given 12 years. (Pic AFP) Factory manager Pedro Muller was sentenced to 10 years and ex-security chief Hector Sibilla given 12 years. (Pic AFP)
It is the first time multinational firm staff have been convicted for crimes committed during the dictatorship. Both Muller and Sibilla said they would appeal It is the first time multinational firm staff have been convicted for crimes committed during the dictatorship. Both Muller and Sibilla said they would appeal

Two former Ford executives in Argentina have been given long jail sentences for collaborating with the country's brutal military regime in 1976-83. Factory manager Pedro Muller was sentenced to 10 years and ex-security chief Hector Sibilla given 12 years.

They were found guilty of providing information about leftist union leaders who were later kidnapped and tortured.

It is the first time multinational firm staff have been convicted for crimes committed during the dictatorship. Both Muller and Sibilla said they would appeal against the verdict.

The jail sentences were handed down by a court near the capital Buenos Aires on Tuesday. The court stated that the two men “were necessary participants in the illegal deprivation of liberty, aggravated by the use of violence and threats” with the aim of political persecution, AFP news agency reports.

The court also found that Sibilla was present during at least one torture session. The crimes were committed at Ford's factory on the outskirts of the capital.

After the verdict, family members of the victims burst into applause in the packed courtroom. During the trial, prosecutors had asked for 25 years in prison for each of the accused.

Ford Argentina has so far made no public comments on the issue. Thousands are estimated to have been killed by the military in its infamous Dirty War against dissidents during the dictatorship.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Think

    ✴ Vincit Omnia Veritas ✴

    Dec 12th, 2018 - 02:50 pm +1
  • :o))

    REF: “Two former Ford executives in Argentina have been given long jail sentences for collaborating with the country's brutal military regime”:

    They'll be praised and awarded in Brazil. Haven't they immigrated yet? Strange!

    Dec 18th, 2018 - 02:44 pm 0
  • Enrique Massot

    The 1976-1983 civic-military dictatorship of Videla and Co. may not have existed without the help and collaboration of significant civil sectors such as large corporations, the judiciary, the Church, large media groups and other enablers and accomplices.

    Argentina's exemplary process of bringing to justice those who provided material help and intelligence to then “grupos de tareas” or “patotas,” the groups in charge of kidnapping and torturing opponents was one of the largest accomplishments of the governments of Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez -- accomplishments that no fake media news will ever be able to silence.

    Dec 18th, 2018 - 06:16 pm 0
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