MADRID – Two former Spanish police officers accused of torturing people during the country's Franco dictatorship have said they will fight extradition to Argentina, where a judge acting on the principle of universal jurisdiction has issued warrants for their arrests.
Jose Antonio Gonzalez Pacheco and Jesus Munecas Aguilar were ordered to surrender their passports and report to court weekly while the extradition case takes months to wind through the justice system.
The two did not comment to reporters outside a Madrid court Thursday after they left the closed door hearing. The court says Munecas Aguilar gave the judge a letter denying the accusations.
Gen. Francisco Franco ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975. The principle of universal jurisdiction holds that some crimes are so bad they can be tried anywhere.