In a belated victory for human decency:
Riggs Bank [of Washington] and two members of the bank’s controlling Allbritton family yesterday agreed to pay $9 million to victims of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for the bank’s role in concealing and spiriting Pinochet’s money out of Britain in 1999.
In return for the payment to a foundation established for victims of Pinochet’s repressive 17-year rule and their survivors, a Spanish court agreed to dismiss criminal charges against current and former directors and officers of the bank, including the Allbrittons. Riggs will pay $8 million.
…..
It… was the first time any institution or person other than the Chilean government has been forced to pay recompense to Pinochet’s victims, according to lawyers involved in the case.
