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Ex-head of Argentina Air Force Sentenced in 'Dirty War' Case


Omar Graffigna, who was head of the Air Force during Argentina's military dictatorship, attends his trial where he is accused of crimes against humanity on the verdict day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 8, 2016.
Omar Graffigna, who was head of the Air Force during Argentina's military dictatorship, attends his trial where he is accused of crimes against humanity on the verdict day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 8, 2016.

A court in Argentina has sentenced the head of the country's air force to 25 years in prison for the abduction and disappearance of activists during the 1976-1983 dictatorship.

The court sentenced 90-year-old Omar Graffigna Thursday for abducting activist couple Patricia Roisinblit and Jose Manuel Perez Rojo in 1978.

Roisinblit was pregnant when she, Perez Rojo, and a 15-month-old daughter were taken to a clandestine detention center. The couple was forcibly disappeared.

Guillermo Perez Roisinblit, the son Roisinblit gave birth to during detention, was a plaintiff in the trial. He was raised by Francisco Gomez, who has served time for stealing Perez when he was an infant. Gomez was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison.

Human rights groups estimate 30,000 people were killed or disappeared during the dictatorship.

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