Argentina Seeks Juan Peron’s Extradition

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30277, 1 November 1963, Page 13

Argentina Seeks Juan Peron’s Extradition

(N.Z. Press Assn -Copyright> BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 31.

Argentina will ask Spain to extradite its former president, Juan Peron, on a charge of statutory rape. The charge involves a teen-ager alleged by Argentine authorities to have become Peron’s mistress after his wife Eva died in 1952. The Court of Criminal Appeals decided yesterday to press the charge, which has been on the books since 1956 The Court over-ruled Judge Alfredo Mangano, who had decided against extradition proceedings ‘because Spanish law does not recognise statutory rape as a ground for extradition.” . The decision said it is up to the Spanish authorities to decide whether the charge against Peron warrants his extradition. After Peron was over-

thrown in 1955, his successors published letters he was said to have sent to Nelida Rivas, a night watchman’s daughter who was 13 or 14 when they met.

A police report said a search of Miss Rivas’ flat uncovered 45.000 dollars in cash, gowns that had belonged to the late Mrs Peron and jewellery which . Argentine unions had presented to her. Miss Rivas married an Argentine employee of the United States Embassy in 1958. She was last known to be living in the suburbs of Buenos Aires.