Eleven members of the Ecuadorian air force will go to jail. They were involved in the disappearance of four young boys last year. Judge Jovanny Suárez said the boys were innocent victims. This is an important step for justice in Ecuador. The country has many security problems. The families will get an official apology from the state. They will also receive a plaque for their sons.
The terrible event happened on December 8th last year. The four boys were going home from a football game. A military patrol took them. Investigations showed a bad sequence of events. The boys were stripped and hurt. Then they were left in a dangerous place. Their burned bodies were found on Christmas Eve. This was a sad end for the families.
This trial is happening during President Daniel Noboa’s new security policy. This policy fights criminal gangs and drug trafficking. The soldiers were on patrol for these operations. Defence officials first said the boys might have robbed someone. However, the court found this was not true. CCTV video helped prove the charges against the soldiers.
The sentences show how serious these crimes are. Eleven soldiers got 34 years and eight months in prison. Five other soldiers helped the prosecution. They received shorter sentences. One lieutenant-colonel was found not guilty. This decision might cause disagreement. A separate investigation is looking into kidnapping that led to death.
This case shows that human rights can be abused during security measures. The public was very upset. This court decision highlights the results of the president’s crime crackdown. The jail sentences bring some justice. However, they also remind us to protect human rights. This is important even when trying to make the country safe.