Spanish judge in Pinochet case probed for allegedly leaking information

MADRID, Spain – The judge who sought to try former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet on human rights abuses has been placed under investigation on suspicion of disclosing information about cases to a his biographer, a disciplinary board said yesterday.

If found guilty by the judicial oversight board, Garzon could face punishment ranging from a $300 fine to being removed from the bench.

The investigation ordered by the disciplinary board stems from a book published in December by journalist Pilar Urbano, titled **Garzon: the Man who Saw the Dawn.**

It addresses high-profile cases handled by Garzon, including Garzon’s failed bid last year to put Pinochet on trial in Madrid for human rights abuses.

Garzon issued the warrant that kept Pinochet under house arrest in London for 16 months. But Britain refused to extradite Pinochet to Madrid, and the general returned to Chile.

Garzon, who as an investigative judge conducts investigations and issues indictments, also has brought charges against officials for the deaths of Spaniards in both Argentina and Chile.

When Urbano’s book came out, questions were raised about whether Garzon was the source of her information. Urbano said Garzon had refused to discuss cases that he was handling or had handled, and said information on those cases came from interviews with 48 other people.

But Urbano admits some information in those case is presented as quotes from Garzon, with a special kind of marking to distinguish them from direct, on-the-record quotes she got from the judge.