Court Rules on Warrant for Pinochet’s Arrest

The Chilean Supreme Court on Tuesday finished hearing an appeal to overturn an order that blocked the arrest of Augusto Pinochet, but it did not reveal the verdict.

The five judges voted on the appeal but chose not to disclose their decision until the full verdict was transcribed, a court official said.

Human rights lawyers were bidding to quash a lower court’s ruling Dec. 11 that a house arrest warrant filed against the retired general was invalid because he was not questioned before the order was issued. The warrant sought Pinochet’s arrest on charges of kidnapping and murder allegedly committed during his 1973-90 dictatorship.

“Strictly applying the law, there is no doubt that this appeal will collapse because it would be absurd that a person can be charged and taken to jail without ever being heard,” said Pablo Rodriguez, the attorney heading Pinochet’s legal team.

If the decision went against the human rights lawyers, it would not spell the end of their bid to try Pinochet, 85, but it could result in a protracted legal battle.

Pinochet returned to Chile from Britain in March after spending more than 500 days under house arrest. He was detained in October 1998 at the request of a Spanish judge who wanted to try him on charges of torture. But Britain ruled that he was too old and sick to stand trial.