A Historic Ruling for Two Survivors of State Terrorism
In a landmark decision that reinforces Argentina's commitment to human rights and historical memory, the Federal Oral Tribunal of Tucumán sentenced former Army intelligence captain Carlos Alberto Vega to 12 years in prison on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, for the abduction and identity substitution of Marcos Eduardo Ramos (recovered grandson No. 128) and his brother Elías Ismael Suleimán during the last military dictatorship (1976-1983).
The ruling was delivered by judges Ana Carina Farías, Cristina Edith Giordano, and Federico Bothamley, who determined that these acts constitute crimes against humanity. This marks another chapter in the investigation of the repressive circuit of the 'Miguel de Azcuénaga' Arsenal Company in Tucumán, one of the clandestine detention centers that operated during the dictatorship.
"The search and identification of individuals appropriated during state terrorism constitutes a permanent obligation of the Argentine State, derived from its constitutional and international commitments," the tribunal stated in its resolution.
The Public Prosecutor's Office had requested 17 years of effective imprisonment in a penitentiary institution, but the judges imposed a lesser sentence to be served at home under electronic monitoring. The decision has been appealed and will be challenged by the prosecution, according to judicial sources.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Court: Federal Oral Tribunal of Tucumán (Judges Farías, Giordano, Bothamley)
- Sentence: 12 years in prison, served under home confinement with electronic monitoring
- Crime: Abduction, retention, concealment, and identity substitution (crimes against humanity)
- Defendant: Carlos Alberto Vega, former Army intelligence captain
- Victims: Marcos Eduardo Ramos (5 months old) and Elías Ismael Suleimán (8 years old) in December 1976
The Story Behind the Abduction
The case dates back to December 1976, when Marcos, just 5 months old, and Elías, 8 years old, were kidnapped by military personnel from a home in the San Cayetano neighborhood of San Miguel de Tucumán. Their mother, Rosario del Carmen Ramos, a militant of the PRT-ERP (Revolutionary Workers Party – People's Revolutionary Army, a left-wing armed group active in Argentina during the 1970s), was abducted for the third time and remains disappeared.
After the kidnapping, the brothers were taken to a property in Tafí Viejo and then separated. Elías managed to escape at age 8 after walking more than 20 blocks to the bus terminal, where he found his uncle. Marcos, on the other hand, was given to civilian intelligence agent Víctor Lucio Sánchez, known by the alias 'Pecho e' tabla' (chest of wood), and was falsely registered as his son under the name Marcelo Ariel Sánchez.
In Argentina, the term 'recovered grandson' (nieto recuperado) refers to individuals who were separated from their biological families during the dictatorship and raised by military or civilian couples who stole them from their parents, who were often political prisoners or disappeared. The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo (Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo) organization has been dedicated since 1977 to finding these individuals, who are estimated to number around 500 in total.
The Defendant's Role
The prosecution argued that Vega, who served in intelligence and counterintelligence operations and had a direct link to Sánchez, was a necessary participant in the abduction, retention, and concealment of both minors, and that he altered Elías' civil status and made Marcos' identity uncertain.
In its ruling, the tribunal emphasized the crucial role of human rights organizations and requested the Ministry of Justice to guarantee comprehensive reparations for the victims and the continuation of their psychological treatment. The full legal reasoning will be made public on August 26 at 2:00 PM.
The Recovery of Marcos' Identity
In June 2026, the National Genetic Data Bank confirmed a 99.99% compatibility between Marcos and his aunt Ilda del Valle Campos, sister of his biological father, Pastor Dante Campos, who was also kidnapped and disappeared during the dictatorship. This new test completed the reconstruction of his biological identity, which had begun in August 2018 when the maternal link was confirmed.
The prosecution team, represented by Pablo Camuña and Valentina García Salemi, celebrated the reunion of the two brothers, which occurred after more than four decades of separation. "No one would have thought this reunion would happen, with the recovery of Marcos' identity," Camuña declared at the closing of his argument.
A Case That Concludes
The trial began in June 2026 and had Vega as the only defendant, after other accused individuals passed away during the legal process. The only person convicted now serves house arrest, a measure that the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo are reviewing and may appeal.
The case was investigated by the Prosecution Unit for Crimes against Humanity, and the tribunal highlighted the importance of preserving and strengthening archives related to the right to identity in Argentina.
Sources: Infobae, La Retaguardia, Ministerio Público Fiscal (Argentina's Public Prosecutor's Office).