Hearings start on Pinochet’s house arrest as he leaves hospital

CHILE’S Supreme Court opened hearings yesterday on whether to uphold the indictment and house arrest of General Augusto Pinochet on human rights charges, after the former dictator was released from hospital after five days recovering from a stroke.

The Santiago army hospital said that Pinochet, aged 89, was taken to his home to continue his treatment and rehabilitation.

Pinochet was indicted and ordered to remain under house arrest last week by Judge Juan Guzman and, on Monday, the Santiago Court of Appeals upheld both decisions.