Cristian Von Wernich

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Cristian Federico Von Wernich is an Argentine Roman Catholic priest and a former chaplain of the Buenos Aires Province Police while it was under the command of General Ramón Camps, during the dictatorial period known as Proceso de Reorganización Nacional (1976–1983).

Von Wernich was accused of participation in the Dirty War, collaborating with the torture of political prisoners. He declared during the Trial of the Juntas (Juicio a las Juntas) in 1985, two years after the return of democracy.

Federal Judge of La Plata, Arnaldo Corazza, gathered testimony from witnesses that saw Von Wernich at three illegal detention centers (Puesto Vasco, Coti Martínez and Pozo de Quilmes), and ordered his detention on 2003-09-25, after the priest was discovered in Chile under a false identity.

On 2006-03-07 the Federal Court of La Plata confirmed the prosecution and imprisonment, on charges of co-authorship of homicide, illegal restraints and acts of torture. Surviving victims have declared that Von Wernich questioned them under torture, subjected them to fake executions, or else, under the guise of counseling, urged them to confess.

So far, Von Wernich has denied all charges, saying that while he did visit detention centers, he did not witness any human rights abuses there. He is still in jail and awaiting trial.