On February 10, 2010, former Uruguayan president Juan Maria Bordaberry was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the country's 1973 military coup. Bordaberry was elected president in 1971, and in 1973 he worked with the military to dissolve the General Assembly, resulting in 12 years of military dictatorship. After his arrest in 2006 on charges of murder, prosecutors later charged Bordaberry with violating Uruguay's constitution. Bordaberry, 81, had been under house arrest since 2007 due to failing health.


Uruguayan flag

Learn more about Uruguay from the JURIST news archive.

Also on This Day at Law:


25th Amendment to the US Constitution took effect
International Jurist Louise Arbour born