MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“There's no way a General can accumulate that money”

The current investigation into former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet bank accounts is directed preliminarily to discover infringements of tax legislation since the funds deposited in the Riggs Bank of Washington DC were never included in the General's 1994/98 tax statements, according to Santiago press reports.

Two special magistrates Sergio Muñoz and Juan Guzmán are currently investigating the alleged non declared funds of Mr. Pinochet, a fact that was first revealed by The Washington Post a few weeks ago following an investigation by the US Congress into American banks involved in money laundering.

An internal memorandum from the Riggs Bank, dated September 11, 2002, specifies details of funds transfers at the time when United States federal authorities were checking into Mr. Pinochet bank accounts and movements.

Apparently and according to the memorandum, Mr. Pinochet and wife Mrs. Luica Hiriart Pinochet between August 2000 and April 2002 withdrew 38 checks totaling two million US dollars. Riggs Bank insists the checks were deposited in a Chilean bank.

However the magistrates have warned that it's the Chilean Internal Taxing Office that must begin judicial actions to determine whether the alleged funds, between 4 and 8 million US dollars deposited in the Riggs Bank were effectively declared.

Apparently the Chilean Internal Taxing Office has requested the Foreign Affairs Ministry information about the alleged funds deposited in Washington. However it was pointed out that all of Mr. Pinochet's income and earnings in public office are in order.

The revelation of Mr. Pinochet alleged secret accounts has come as a shock to Chilean public opinion. A former Defence Minister said is was vital that the whole incident be completely cleared since the honor of the Chilean Armed Forces is at stake.

"With a General's income there is no way you can accumulate that money", said Edmundo Pérez-Yoma, Defence minister of the previous Chilean coalition government. "The image and standing of the Chilean Armed Forces has been greatly affected" insisted Mr. Perez-Yoma.

"Almost everybody believed that in spite of its excesses and defects Mr. Pinochet government was rather clean, almost corruption free, and if this proves to be not true, one of the last myths will have disappeared".