Argentine court sentences former soldier for sexual abuse

A federal court in Argentina has sentenced former Army First Sergeant Héctor Lorenzo Andersen to two years and six months of suspended prison for the sexual abuse of two female soldiers. The incidents occurred in 2022 at a barracks in Azul while Andersen was in charge of the maintenance post.

One victim reported harassment, non-consensual physical contact, and sexual comments accompanied by threats regarding her military status. A second soldier reported similar non-consensual touching between October and November 2022.

In addition to the prison sentence, Andersen must pay 5 million pesos to each victim as reparations. He is prohibited from contacting the victims or approaching them within 500 meters. The court also ordered the Argentine Army and the Ministry of Defense to implement protocols for supporting victims of sexual crimes, including psychological assistance and confidential reporting mechanisms.