Chile Judge Frees Some Pinochet Assets for Taxes

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SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A Chilean judge partially lifted a freeze on assets of former dictator Augusto Pinochet on Monday so he can pay five years of back taxes.

A court clerk said that Judge Sergio Munoz ruled in favor of a defense request to free $2.7 million dollars, so Pinochet can pay back taxes from 1999 to 2004, but kept frozen another $3 million in assets.

Pinochet is being investigated on accusations of tax fraud and corruption related to millions he stashed in secret bank accounts.

Munoz said in a recent court filing that he has found $17 million that Pinochet and his family stashed in more than 100 accounts in foreign banks and never reported to Chilean tax authorities.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8288608