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Chilean Appeals Court Blocks Pinochet Arrest
The Santiago Appeals Court accepted Tuesday, December 5, the appeal of Augusto Pinochet's lawyer against a house arrest order for the former Chilean leader.
The three-member court of appeals panel voted unanimously to suspend the house arrest order for Pinochet, which was issued by Chilean judge Juan Guzman on Friday.
Guzman also indicted the former Chilean leader on charge of kidnapping and homicide during his ten-year rule from 1973 to 1990, killing at least 55 people. So far, there is no official documents proving Pinochet's involvement.
The court also blocked actions related to the indictment, including the prohibition of Pinochet from traveling abroad.
Yet the court announced the detention order will remain effective until they decide whether to uphold or dismiss Guzman's indictment. The court is expected to make its ruling on Thursday.
Pinochet's lawyer Ambriosio Rodriguez said the defense counsels were satisfied with the decision and would file the case to the court "calmly" on Wednesday. "We trust the impartiality of the Chilean justice for ever," he added.
Pinochet's lawyer filed the appeal on Saturday, saying that Guzman issued the order without even questioning Pinochet first as mandated by the law, and the order should be considered "illegal and arbitrary".
The lawyer also said Pinochet should undergo medical examinations to ensure that he is physically fit for a trial.
Rodriguez said Tuesday that the defense will take its complaints against Guzman before the Supreme Court.
In his indictment, Guzman said he had sent two written questionnaires to Pinochet while he was under house arrest in Britain until last march, and both were answered.
Insisting he has acted according to the law, Guzman said he considered the written questionnaires as formal questioning.
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