A 72-year-old Chilean woman suspected of kidnapping and torturing dissidents during General Augusto Pinochet's military rule has lost her legal battle against extradition from Australia.
Adriana Rivas, who moved to Australia in 1978, is accused of involvement in the disappearance of seven people before she emigrated. Chile requested her extradition 12 years ago. Rivas denies the allegations.
During the Pinochet era, from 1973 to 1990, over 40,000 people were politically persecuted, and approximately 3,000 were killed.
A federal judge dismissed Rivas's lawyers' arguments that the extradition request was legally flawed. She may attempt to appeal the decision. If no further appeal is successful, Rivas will be sent to Chile to face charges of aggravated kidnapping. Prosecutors allege she was an agent for the National Intelligence Directorate (Dina), responsible for abducting and torturing political opponents. Witnesses have described her as a "brutal torturer," a claim Rivas denies.