Friday, October 26, 2007

Chile: Court drops charges against Pinochet family

A Chilean appeals court dropped corruption charges against the widow and four children of ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet. The court’s ruling extends beyond the Pinochet clan and includes charges being revoked against nine former aides of the deceased ruler.

One of Pinochet’s accused daughters- Lucia- felt indicated by the today’s ruling, according to La Nacion:

“I never worked for the government and I cannot be charged as a public servant. It is a silly case.”

Though the government refused to comment publicly on the case, Prosecutor Alfonso Insunza said that the ruling will be appealed before the Supreme Court.

The five accused members of Pinochet’s family were arrested earlier this month over their possibly connection to Augusto Pinochet’s diverting of public funds to the Washington-based Riggs Bank.

Sources (English)- Monsters & Critics, BBC News, Associated Press, Canada.com, Bloomberg

Source (Spanish)- La Nacion

Image- elmundo.es

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