Pinochet's widow, children indicted in Chile

updated 12:47 p.m. ET Oct. 4, 2007

SANTIAGO, Chile - The widow and five children of dictator Augusto Pinochet were among 23 people indicted Thursday on corruption charges, a judge said.

Judge Carlos Cerda said he ordered the detention of the 23 relatives and former associates of Pinochet because of "solid indications that they had participated in the misuse of fiscal funds" during Pinochet's 1973-90 dictatorship.

Pinochet's widow Lucia Hiriart, two of his children and several other suspects had already been arrested, police director Arturo Herrera said.

Cerda was to decide whether to keep them detained during trial.

Those indicted included at least three retired army generals — Jorge Ballerino, Guillermo Garin and Hector Letelier — and other lower-ranking officers.

Also indicted were Pinochet's longtime secretary, Monica Ananias, and one of his lawyers, Ambrosio Rodriguez.

Pinochet died in December 2006 at age 91 while under indictment on human rights and corruption charges.

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