Madrid (CNN) It was almost half a century ago that Ines Madrigal was born in Spain and handed to a woman who was not her mother.

In all those years, she has seen no trace of her birth mother, nor any evidence that she was willingly given up for adoption. Madrigal suspects she was one of Spain's ninos robados -- stolen babies -- a victim of a sinister political practice that began after the Spanish Civil War and continued as recently as the 1990s.

Eduardo Vela, an 85-year-old obstetrician, faced court in the Spanish capital of Madrid on Tuesday, accused of abducting Madrigal as a newborn back in 1969.

He has been charged with the illegal detention of a minor and forging a public document. Public prosecutors are seeking an 11-year jail term.

Demonstrators holding placards reading "Justice" outside the court Tuesday.

Vela was seen arriving at the court in a wheelchair. He appeared weak and confused during the hearing, and gave short answers as he struggled to comprehend questions directed at him.

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