Cavallo, Ricardo fr

Countries of proceedings: Argentina, Mexico, Spain
Context of crimes: Argentina
Date: 1999 – present
Keywords: Genocide, torture, terrorism, jurisdiction (universal), immunities, judicial cooperation (extradition)

Ricardo Cavallo is a former Argentine Intelligence Officer who served in the notorious Escuela de Suboficiales de Mecánica de la Armada (ESMA), the most important secret detention centre in Buenos Aires, during the 1976-1983 junta.

In 1999, Judge Garzón – the Spanish judge from the Pinochet case – initiated legal proceedings against Ricardo Cavallo. He was subsequently indicted for genocide, terrorism and acts of torture.

Cavallo was arrested in Mexico on 24 August 2000 and, in June 2003, the Mexican Supreme Court dealt with the issue of his extradition. The charges included terrorism and genocide. On 28 June 2003 Cavallo was extradited to Spain and on 11 January 2006, he was charged by the Spanish public prosecutor with genocide and terrorism. On 20 December 2006, the Spanish High Court (Audiencia nacional) decided that it did not have jurisdiction and offered to transfer him to Argentina.

On 14 June 2005, the Argentinean Supreme Court declared that the Ley de Punto final (1986) and the Ley de Obediencia debida (1987), which granted amnesty for acts perpetrated under the 1976-1983 junta, were unconstitutional. Since that decision, nearly 400 policemen and militaries have been put under investigation in Argentina. Two of them have been convicted of murder, torture and kidnapping and a further 200 are on remand in custody. Proceedings to extradite Cavallo to Argentina are still pending.

Documents (in Spanish)

Argentina
13-06-1996 – Auto de acusación de la fiscalía en la causa Nº 761 (ESMA) (documento non oficial)
14-06-2005 – Corte Suprema: Fallo anulando las leyes de amnistía

Mexico
10-06-2003 – Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación: extradición

Spain
01-09-2000 – Juzgado central de instrucciones: Auto de procesamiento
12-09-2000 – Juzgado central de instrucciones: Pedido de extradición
11-01-2006 – Audiencia nacional: Conclusiones del Fiscal
20-12-2006 – Audiencia nacional: Auto declarando la incompetencia