A Long-Awaited Trial Reaches Its Final Stage

In a courtroom in Comodoro Rivadavia, a city in Argentine Patagonia, the prosecution has begun presenting its closing arguments in one of the most significant military trials in the country's recent history. The prosecutors are requesting prison sentences of up to 5 years for four former high-ranking officers of the Argentine Navy (Armada Argentina).

The officers are accused of negligence leading to the tragic loss of the ARA San Juan (S-42), a TR-1700 class submarine that disappeared on November 15, 2017, in the South Atlantic Ocean. The vessel was carrying 44 crew members, none of whom survived.

The Negligence Allegations

The prosecution argues that the submarine left the Mar del Plata Naval Base on October 25, 2017, despite serious technical deficiencies that were known to the command. The vessel had gone over 26 months without dry-dock maintenance, a critical failure for any submarine.

According to the indictment, the four defendants held positions of authority that required them to ensure the safety of the vessel and its crew. Their decision to authorize the mission despite the known risks directly led to the catastrophic implosion on November 15, 2017, at 10:51 local time.