Pinochet accused of tax evasion
Publish date: 11 October 2004
Issue Number: 1192
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Tenders
Former Chilean dictator Augusta Pinochet, the defendant in hundreds of different human rights cases after he was recently stripped by the Chilean Supreme Court of his immunity from prosecution, has also been slapped with a tax lawsuit.
The Independent reports tax authorities have levelled tax fraud and evasion charges against Pinochet, who was believed to have been honest in handling public moneys until a financial scandal broke earlier this year. The latest lawsuit comes after a US senate report revealed he was keeping secret accounts with up to $8m at the Riggs National Bank, based in Washington DC. Chile\'s internal tax service alleges that Pinochet filed false or maliciously incomplete tax declarations. If found guilty he could face up to five years in prison. Full report in The Independent
