Ion Ficior, a former Romanian prison chief who was sentenced to 20 years for crimes against humanity, died in jail on Wednesday at the age of 90.

Ficior was charged with the deaths of 103 political prisoners [Romania Journal report] during his time as commander of the Periprava work camp during the communist ruling. Charges were filed in August 2014 after accusations that Ficior had initiated and ran an inhumane, repressive and abusive regime while he was running the prison camp. Prisoners were denied medication, food and communication with the outside world. All 103 prisoners who died under Ficior’s charge were members of the anti-revolutionist community. Ficior denied responsibility for the deaths and any wrong doing, claiming that he was simply following orders.

In March 2017 Romania’s High Court of Cassation and Justice denied an appeal [JURIST report] filed by Ficior. At that time, the court also upheld the ruling mandating Ficior, the interior ministry, the finance ministry, and the National Penitentiary Administration pay USD $335,000 in damages to eight former political prisoners and their families.