Report: Gold in Pinochet's name in Hong Kong bank

[Judi Lynn]

Oct. 25, 2006, 12:37PM
Report: Gold in Pinochet's name in Hong Kong bank

By EDUARDO GALLARDO
Associated Press

SANTIAGO, Chile — A Hong Kong bank has a multimillion-dollar gold deposit registered to Augusto Pinochet, the government said today. Newspapers put the total at some $160 million, but a lawyer and spokesman for the former Chilean dictator denied it.

Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said the Chilean government received information about the account "through one of our diplomatic missions abroad several days ago."

Foxley said the information, which included photocopies of documents, "is not official yet" but was relayed to the courts that have been investigating Pinochet's fortune abroad for more than two years.

A spokesman for Pinochet, retired Gen. Guillermo Garin, said he had no information on the alleged deposit at the HSBC bank in Hong Kong.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4286799.html



Potential Pinochet gold stash found in Hong Kong
Wed 25 Oct 2006 18:08:51 BST
By Antonio de la Jara

SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Chile's government has asked a special prosecutor to investigate reports that former dictator Augusto Pinochet, already facing charges related to secret bank accounts, hid about nine tons of gold in a Hong Kong bank.

Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said on Wednesday that the information was received several days ago and had been passed on to the State Defense Council, a military-civilian judicial team prosecuting Pinochet for other economic crimes.

No further information was available about the alleged Pinochet gold stash, but El Mercurio newspaper reported it was being held in the ex-dictator's name in Hong Kong warehouses of HSBC Bank PLC.

If confirmed, the find could raise powerful new suspicions about the wealth Pinochet accumulated over his 17-year dictatorship and further turn public opinion against him.

"If this information is confirmed, it would be grave indeed," Chile Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said on national radio on Wednesday.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=N25313838&WTmodLoc=World-R5-Alertnet-3

[truthisfreedom]

1. 288,000 ounces.

[ck4829]

2. Seize it, investigate how it got there, then return it

To the People of Chile.

[Eugene]

3. BBC: HSBC probes Pinochet gold claims (They're denying it.)

Last Updated: Wednesday, 25 October 2006, 17:43 GMT 18:43 UK

HSBC probes Pinochet gold claims

HSBC say they are investigating Chilean reports of a multimillion gold deposit
allegedly belonging to Augusto Pinochet and held in a Hong Kong bank account.

Two newspapers allege that gold bars belonging to the former military leader
worth $160m (£85.5m) have been found.

HSBC says that, although initial checks show it does not hold the gold, it is
awaiting information from the Chilean authorities to pursue the inquiry.

-snip-

"However, at present, we do not believe we hold gold or any other funds
for Gen Pinochet, in Hong Kong or elsewhere."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6084524.stm

[Judi Lynn]

4. It's so natural for them to be incensed, isn't it? It's not as if he hasn't already

been caught with OTHER hidden stashes already.....

He probably imagines he has saved Chile at least that much money by saving Chile the trouble of having to feed, clothe, and shelter over 30,000 political prisoners!