Family of Chile's former leader Augusto Pinochet arrested on embezzlement charges
{{date|October 5, 2007}}
[[Image:Augusto Pinochet - 1995.jpg|thumb|Augusto Pinochet, photographed in 1995.]]
The widow and five children of former Chilean dictator [[w:Augusto Pinochet|Augusto Pinochet]] have been arrested in [[Chile]] on embezzlement charges. They are accused of illegally transferring [[w:United States dollar|USD]]27 million to foreign bank accounts during Pinochet's rule from 1973 to 1990.  Seventeen of Pinochet's former associates, including his former personal secretary and three retired army generals, were also arrested.  

Pinochet had been charged with tax evasion, fraud, and embezzlement following a 2004 [[United States|U.S.]] [[w:United States Senate|Senate]] investigation.  In December 2006, he died without having been brought to trial. However, Chilean Judge Carlos Cerda said there were "solid indications" that Pinochet's family and associates had also "participated in the misuse of fiscal funds".

Jose Miguel Vivanco of [[w:Human Rights Watch|Human Rights Watch]] called the decision "an extremely important development for Chile's democracy and the rule of law. Going after the relatives of the powerful and the fortunes they amassed used to be considered off limits," he said.

Pinochet family lawyer Pablo Rodriguez said he was "astonished by this illegal and abusive decision by the judge", and that he was "sure that it will be reversed by the Court of Appeals."

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== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7028503.stm
|title=Pinochet family arrested in Chile
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 4, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=ap4UW8OW0yYU&refer=latin_america
|title=Pinochet Family Charged With Misuse of Chilean Funds (Update3)
|author=Bill Faries and Heather Walsh
|pub=Bloomberg.com
|date=October 4, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/10/04/pinochet-arrests.html
|title=Pinochet's widow, sons and daughters face corruption charges
|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=October 4, 2007}}

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[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:South America]]
[[Category:Chile]]
[[Category:Human Rights Watch]]

[[es:Detienen a la familia y a grupo de ex colaboradores de Pinochet]]
Augusto Pinochet, photographed in 1995.
The widow and five children of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet have been arrested in Chile on embezzlement charges. They are accused of illegally transferring USD27 million to foreign bank accounts during Pinochet's rule from 1973 to 1990.  Seventeen of Pinochet's former associates, including his former personal secretary and three retired army generals, were also arrested.  

Pinochet had been charged with tax evasion, fraud, and embezzlement following a 2004 U.S. Senate investigation.  In December 2006, he died without having been brought to trial. However, Chilean Judge Carlos Cerda said there were "solid indications" that Pinochet's family and associates had also "participated in the misuse of fiscal funds".

Jose Miguel Vivanco of Human Rights Watch called the decision "an extremely important development for Chile's democracy and the rule of law. Going after the relatives of the powerful and the fortunes they amassed used to be considered off limits," he said.

Pinochet family lawyer Pablo Rodriguez said he was "astonished by this illegal and abusive decision by the judge", and that he was "sure that it will be reversed by the Court of Appeals."
Crime and law South America Chile Human Rights Watch