A Chilean judge that is investigating Augusto Pinochet's accounts at Riggs Bank has questioned the ex-Chilean dictator's wife and family about the origin of Pinochet's funds - but no one seems to know. Pinochet's wife, Lucia Hiriart, appears as a holder on some of the accounts that Washington, D.C.-based Riggs Bank maintained for Pinochet. According to a U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report, Riggs maintained a fortune for Pinochet that was highlighted by deposits between $4 million and $8 million at a time. Riggs also helped Pinochet set up Bahamas shell corporations - Ashburton Co. and Althorp Investment Co....
A Spanish judge's use of universal jurisdiction in a case involving a bank's alleged role in laundering money for Augusto Pinochet could affect how countries cooperate in prosecuting financial crimes.