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Graft: Pinochet stripped of immunity

Santiago (Chile): The Supreme Court has stripped the former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, of immunity from prosecution for corruption charges related to his multimillion-dollar bank accounts overseas. Mr. Pinochet (890 has been stripped of his presidential immunity at least four times before, but in cases stemming from the massive human rights abuses during his 1973-90 dictatorship. This time, the court decided that Mr. Pinochet can be tried on charges related to his bank accounts in the United States. The charges filed by Judge Sergio Munoz include tax evasion, filing a false tax return and using false passports to open bank accounts abroad. The ruling by the top court upheld a previous one by the Santiago Court of Appeals. A decision on whether to actually try Mr. Pinochet will have to be made by a judge yet to be appointed by the Supreme Court. The judge that originally filed the charges, Mr. Munoz, had to leave the case because he was promoted to the Supreme Court this week. He abstained from Wednesday's decision. Mr. Pinochet already faces trial in a case known as ``Operation Colombo,'' in which he is charged in the killing of 15 dissidents in the early years of his rule. On Tuesday, Mr. Pinochet underwent the first of three court-ordered medical tests to determine whether he is healthy enough to stand trial. Prior cases have been dismissed because of his poor health.

— AP

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