Chilean Judge Questions Pinochet on Riggs Bank Money
/A Chilean judge has questioned former dictator
Augusto Pinochet about secret U.S. bank accounts worth up to $8
million, a member of Pinochet's legal defense said on Friday. It was
the first time Pinochet, 88, has appeared before a judge since the
Supreme Court ruled in 2001 he was mentally incompetent to stand trial
in a landmark human rights case. Gen Pinochet, 88, was questioned at
his home about 10 days ago after agreeing to testify, a member of his
legal team told reporters. It was his first interview with a judge
since being ruled unfit to stand trial over human rights violations in
2001.While Pinochet has long been accused of human rights abuses, the
discovery of the U.S. accounts prompted the first accusations of
corruption. Pinochet's family and lawyers have denied he stole public
monies. [more 
] and [more ]
] and [more ]- Connection- Jonathan Bush and Riggs?: Jonathan
Bush, President Bush's uncle, was appointed CEO of Riggs Bank's
investment arm in May of 2000, just months after his nephew secured the
nomination for the presidency. At the time of the appointment, Jonathan
Bush had already become a major financial backer of his nephew, rising
to "Bush Pioneer" status by raising more than $100,000 for his nephew
in 2000. [more ]
- Last Month Senate investigators concluded that
Riggs Bank, "courted business from former Chilean dictator Augusto
Pinochet and helped him hide millions of dollars in assets from
international prosecutors." The revelations come just weeks after "the
bank agreed to pay $25 million in civil penalties for what federal
regulators called 'willful, systemic' violation of
anti-money-laundering laws in its dealings with the embassies of Saudi
Arabia and Equatorial Guinea." [more ]
