FORMER GENERAL PINOCHET FAMILY IN A LIMBO.

US bank accounts were found in the name of Pinochet and his relatives

A Chilean judge has ordered the arrest of five children and the widow of former military ruler Augusto Pinochet on charges of embezzlement.

The warrants were among 23 issued as part of a corruption investigation into state funds held in US bank accounts.

Gen Pinochet, who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, died in December 2006 before he could stand trial on charges of corruption and human rights abuses.

More than 3,000 people were killed or “disappeared” during his military rule.

Judge Carlos Cerda said there were “solid indications” the accused had “participated in the misuse of fiscal funds”.

Judge Cerda is investigating a case in which Gen Pinochet allegedly hid some $27m (£13.2m) with the help of Washington-based Riggs bank.

RIGGS CASE 2004 US probe into Riggs bank found Gen Pinochet held up to $8m in secret accounts there Accounts alleged to have been opened in names of his widow, children and associates Further investigations found former ruler held some $27m in foreign accounts Gen Pinochet charged with tax evasion and using false passports to open accounts abroad His lawyers say fortune gained legally through savings, donations and accrued interest

The arrest order has already led to the detention of Gen Pinochet’s widow, Lucia Hiriart, two of his children and several other suspects, police director Arturo Herrera told AP news agency.

Suspects include Gen Pinochet’s former personal secretary, Monica Ananias and his lawyer Gustavo Collao.

At least three retired army generals - Jorge Ballerino, Guillermo Garin and Hector Letelier - were also indicted.

Chilean Interior Minister Felipe Harboe said the arrest order was a judicial decision but declined further comment.

In 2004, a US Senate investigation found hundreds of bank accounts in the name of Pinochet and his relatives at the bank. He was being investigated for tax evasion, fraud and embezzlement in relation to those funds.

His immunity from prosecution was stripped in 2000, sparking years of legal wrangling to bring him to trial for alleged human rights abuses and tax fraud.

His lawyers said he was unable to defend himself for health reasons.

In 2006, Gen Pinochet died of a heart attack aged 91 while under house arrest.