A judge in Chile is declining to charge any of the late dictator Augusto Pinochet's family members in a long-running investigation into where he got his fortune.

The former dictator was charged in 2005 with tax evasion for the millions he held in foreign bank accounts, but died in 2006.  There’ve long been suspicions that Pinochet profited from arms sales and embezzlement of public funds, and an audit in 2010 could not determine where $17 Million of his $21 Million known fortune came from.

Judge Manuel Valderrama said the nine-year probe had found no evidence of Pinochet's relatives helping to hide the cash.  The judge says either side could appeal his decision.

Six of the fascist general's aides, who were charged in the course of the inquiry, are still expected to face trial.

Pinochet never faced trial for the atrocities crimes committed during his 1973-1990 dictatorship, when around 3,000 people were kidnapped and killed and 28,000 were tortured.