Chile court frees Pinochet assets to pay back taxes News
Chile court frees Pinochet assets to pay back taxes

[JURIST] A Chilean court Monday freed a portion of former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet's previously-frozen assets [JURIST report] to allow the ex-dictator to pay five years of back taxes. Judge Sergio Munoz froze the assets last year after finding that Pinochet [JURIST news archive] and his family put about $17 million in some 100 foreign bank accounts which were never reported to Chilean authorities. Chile's revenue department has indicated that it will persist in its tax fraud case against him [JURIST report] even if the back taxes are paid. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.