Ecuador: 11 soldiers sentenced over four Guayaquil boys' disappearance, but no commanders charged and a murder case still pending
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What happened
Four boys aged 11 to 15 were detained by armed forces in Las Malvinas, Guayaquil on December 8, 2024; their charred bodies, with signs of torture, were found near a military base on December 24. In December 2025 a court sentenced 11 soldiers to about 34 years each for forced disappearance, and five who cooperated received 2.5 years. Amnesty International said no higher-ranking officers had been identified as charged and that lack of cooperation from the armed forces is the main obstacle to justice; the murder trial was expected in 2026, and the Defense Ministry said it complied with the ruling after initially denying involvement.
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- ABC News (Australia)
11 of 17 soldiers convicted
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- ABC News (Australia)
5 cooperating soldiers 2.5 years
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