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Chilean Supreme Court removes
Pinochet's prosecution immunity
Chile's Supreme Court said on
Wednesday former military leader
Augusto Pinochet can face
criminal charges related to the
murder of dissidents in 1975
underhis rule.
Supreme Court President Jose
Benquis told reporters the
ruling was made by a vote of
10-6. It was the third time that
Pinochet was stripped of
immunity from prosecution, a
privilege of former presidents.
The ruling authorized Judge
Victor Montiglio who is handling
the case to make investigations
and collect evidence.
The cases involved 119 leftists
who were detained by Pinochet's
secret police, but Pinochet's
case known as Operation Colombo
would be limited to 15 victims
whose family members filed a
lawsuit against him. The
Santiago Appeals Court decided
to remove Pinochet's immunity in
July.
The Supreme Court has upheld the
immunity removal ruling against
Pinochet twice before, but he
avoided being charged on grounds
of poor health. The ex-ruler
suffers from diabetes and heart
problems, and allegedly has mild
dementia.
Pinochet, 89, ruled Chile from
1973 to 1990, a period when more
than 3,000 people died in
political violence.
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