Buenos Aires — The trial of four former high-ranking Argentine navy officers began on Tuesday for their alleged role in the 2017 sinking of the ARA San Juan submarine that killed 44 of its crew.
The Southern Provincial Court of Santa Cruz will preside over the trial, where the defendants face charges of dereliction of duty, breach of official duty and aggravated negligent destruction – all of which carry prison terms. All the accused maintain their innocence.
Although military officials face trial, no high-level political figures — including the president or cabinet members at the time — have been prosecuted for the November 2017 disaster.
On November 15, a German-built submarine disappeared in the South Atlantic with 44 crew members on board. It was traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina’s far south – 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of Buenos Aires – to its base at Mar del Plata after training. Earlier that day, the ship reported a malfunction caused by water entering the batteries through the snorkel, although it said the problem had been resolved. Hours later, an explosion was detected in the area where contact had been lost.
A judicial investigation concluded that the submarine suffered operational deficiencies before it left Mar del Plata on October 25, 2017.
Since a mid-life overhaul in 2015, the submarine has had “numerous technical faults” which have been “documented by various captains who have served over the years”, prosecutors told the court on Tuesday.
According to the court reconstruction, water entered through the ventilation ducts and reached the battery tank, triggering a short circuit and a small fire. This caused the submarine to lose control and descend rapidly, causing an explosion as the hull could not withstand the immense pressure at a depth of more than 600 meters.
Relatives of the dead crew, represented by attorney Luis Tagliapietra, argue that the current trial falls short of achieving true justice.
In a recent statement, the group criticized Judge Marta Isabel Yanez for failing to conduct necessary expert analyzes or investigate political leadership. He specifically pointed towards the administration of then President Mauricio Macri.
In a separate ruling in October, Argentina’s Supreme Court dismissed claims of illegal espionage against the families of 44 crew members. The decision ended all legal proceedings against Macri, who served as head of state when the submarine exploded.
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