Reuters AlertNet Lite - Chile's Pinochet loses immunity in chemist's death

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Chile's Pinochet loses immunity in chemist's death

12 Oct 2006 17:17:42 GMT
Source: Reuters

SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct 12 (Reuters) - A Chilean appeals court cleared the way on Thursday for former dictator Augusto Pinochet to face charges related to the murder of a chemist who worked as a secret police agent, a judge said.

Pinochet, 90, who ruled Chile from 1973-1990, has been charged in several human rights cases, but has never been convicted or acquitted because some cases are still continuing and others have been thrown out due to his poor health.

Lead justice at the court of appeal in Santiago Gabriela Perez told reporters the court had voted 16 to 2 in favor of stripping Pinochet of immunity from prosecution in the case.

Under Chilean law, the courts must decide on a case-by-case basis whether Pinochet should be stripped of immunity -- a privilege of former leaders of the South American country.

The body of Eugenio Berrios, a scientist in chemistry who worked for Pinochet's DINA secret police, was found in 1995 buried on a beach in Uruguay with gunshot wounds to the head.

Even though Pinochet was no longer head of state, he was still commander in chief of the army at the time of Berrios' death, thought to be in 1992.

An investigating judge said earlier this year Berrios had sought refuge in Uruguay to escape prosecution in Chile, where he was accused of participating in the assassination of former Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier in Washington, D.C. in 1976.

Berrios was also called on to testify in a case related to the production of the deadly nerve agent sarin gas to be used for killings during the dictatorship.

Under Pinochet's regime, which began with a coup, an estimated 3,000 people were killed or disappeared in political violence and many more were detained and tortured by government agencies under the direction of the DINA.

Pinochet, 90, is no longer active in Chilean politics, but remains in the public eye because of the string of court cases against him. His defense lawyers have argued he is unfit to stand trial for health reasons.

(Additional reporting by Erik Lopez)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Chile profile
· View map

• Uruguay profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• ADRA Holds Training in Chile to Advance Staff Excellence
ADRA - International

• WHO sticks head in sand over high cost of newer AIDS drug
MSF International

• New MSF data shows treatment of children works in resource poor settings
MSF International

MORE >>

Latest news

• Chile's Pinochet loses immunity in chemist's death

• Nations rally to air travel "medicines" tax- France

• Fences mean more border deaths -- Mexico's Calderon

• Pentagon supports resumed military aid to Latam

• U.S. to resume some military aid to Latin America

MORE >>

Last updated:Thu Oct 12 17:22:45 2006