The Santiago Court of Appeals removed former military ruler Augusto Pinochet's immunity from prosecution on Tuesday, paving the way for him to be tried for financial fraud after the discovery that he had secret accounts in the United States.

The Santiago Court of Appeals voted 14-11 for the petition of judge Sergio Munoz regarding tax evasion, embezzlement and forgery of Pinochet. The judge has been leading an investigation into Pinochet's bank accounts in the United States.

The court only rejected removing Pinochet's immunity with respect to the purchase of lands located in El Melocoton sector, near the capital.

The court analyzed Pinochet case on May 18, but the voting was suspended twice for lack of quorum.

Last year, the US Senate revealed that Pinochet has some secret accounts at Riggs Bank in Washington, which allows him to move at least 16 million US dollars.

In the recent years, Pinochet faced petitions to have his immunity removed for human rights violation cases during his dictatorship.

Pinochet, 89, took power in a bloody coup toppling elected President Salvador Allende in 1973 and ruled Chile until 1990.

An estimated 3,000 people died in political violence during his regime, and tens of thousands more were imprisoned, tortured and exiled.

Source: Xinhua