Pinochet's relatives, former associates released on bail, leave prison

Gen. Augusto Pinochet's widow, children and former associates were released on bail two days after their arrest on corruption charges.

The two sons and three daughters of the late dictator walked out of prison Saturday and went straight to the Santiago Military Hospital to see their mother, Lucia Hiriart, who has been treated there for high blood pressure since her arrest.

Though no longer under arrest, Hiriart remained at the hospital for medical treatment.

On Thursday, Judge Carlos Cerda order their arrests on charges of misuse of state funds during the 1973-1990 dictatorship.

The charges stem from the former dictator's multimillion dollar (euro) bank accounts in the United States and elsewhere. Gen. Pinochet himself was under indictment in the case when he died in December at age 91.

Pinochet and his associates have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing in connection with the bank accounts, saying the funds were legitimate savings and investments, plus donations Pinochet received.

Judge Juan Eduardo Fuentes said a three member-panel unanimously agreed to allow 23 relatives and associates of the former dictator to be freed and set bail ranging from US$200 to US$590 (euro140 to euro415). In addition to Pinochet's relatives, the indicted included 17 former aides, with six retired army generals among them.

Pinochet's son Augusto repeated earlier statements suggesting the case against the family is politically motivated. Leaving prison, he challenged Chileans to "judge for yourselves."

"This is my personal reasoning: This country should think about what's going on," he said.

The family lawyer, Pablo Rodriguez, called the legal accusations "unprecedented, open political persecution."

The case exposed the divisions Pinochet still inspires among Chileans. Fights between supporters and foes of Pinochet broke out repeatedly in front of the different facilities where the indicted were being held.

At least 3,197 dissidents were killed or disappeared during the dictatorship, according to an official report. More than 1,000 of them remain unaccounted for.