Judge indicted for investigating Spanish civil war

THE Spanish judge who became an international hero by going after Augusto Pinochet and Osama bin Laden was indicted yesterday for daring to investigate what is arguably Spain’s own biggest unresolved case — atrocities committed during and after its Civil War.

Baltasar Garzon has been charged with knowingly acting without jurisdiction by launching a probe in 2008 of tens of thousands of wartime executions and disappearances of civilians by forces loyal to General Franco. The crimes were covered by a 1977 amnesty.

Garzon could be removed from the bench for 10 to 20 years if convicted.