DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235452
TITLE=ARGENTINA GENERAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: A FEDERAL JUDGE IN ARGENTINA HAS ORDERED FORMER MILITARY 
DICTATOR JORGE VIDELA HELD WITHOUT BAIL UNTIL HIS TRIAL ON 
CHARGES OF AUTHORIZING BABY-STEALING TWO DECADES AGO. THE TRIAL 
DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET. WE HAVE MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE 
MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.

TEXT: JUDGE ROBERTO MARQUEVICH HAS DECIDED THAT THERE IS 
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AGAINST GENERAL VIDELA TO KEEP HIM IN JAIL, 
WHERE HE HAS BEEN FOR FIVE WEEKS. THE JUDGE FROZE FIVE MILLION 
DOLLARS OF THE GENERAL'S ASSETS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVENTUAL 
FINES AND DAMAGES. 

JUDGE MARQUEVICH REJECTED THE DEFENSE ARGUMENT THAT GENERAL 
VIDELA SHOULD BE RELEASED BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY CHARGED AND 
ACQUITTED IN THE CASE. THE JUDGE ALSO REJECTED A MOTION TO 
TRANSFER THE DEFENDANT FROM A COMMON PRISON TO HOUSE ARREST. 

GENERAL VIDELA WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOLLOWING HIS  
CONVICTION IN 1985 ON CHARGES OF MURDER, KIDNAPPING, TORTURE, AND
OTHER CRIMES. HOWEVER, HE WAS PARDONED BY PRESIDENT CARLOS MENEM 
FIVE YEARS LATER. 

GENERAL VIDELA, WHO SEIZED POWER IN 1976 AND RULED FOR FIVE 
YEARS, IS ACCUSED OF ALLOWING MILITARY OFFICERS TO ILLEGALLY 
ADOPT FIVE BABIES BORN TO POLITICAL PRISONERS WHO WERE LATER 
KILLED.  HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN 200 SUCH 
CASES. UNDER ARGENTINE LAW AMNESTIES DO  NOT  APPLY TO CRIMES 
AGAINST MINORS. 

ANOTHER ARGENTINE JUDGE, ADOLFO BAGNASCO, IS ALSO INVESTIGATING  
BABY-SNATCHING CHARGES FILED BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CALLED THE
GRANDMOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO. JUDGE BAGNASCO IS TRYING TO 
DETERMINE IF THE CRIME WAS PART OF A CONSPIRACY. (SIGNED)

NEB/GM/LTD/PLM



14-Jul-98 4:00 PM EDT (2000 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.