“The death of Paul Schaefer prevent continued criminal prosecution because there is no criminal prosecution in this world who are dead,” said the president of Chile, Sebastian Pinera.
Schaefer”s Health worsened in the last hours, and died at 07H20 local time (11h20 GMT) resulting from severe heart disease, as detailed Gendarmerie.
“The immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest due to coronary failure he suffered at his age, “said for his part, Judge Jorge Cepeda, who investigates crimes committed within the so-called” Colonia Dignidad “.
According to testimonies some people who managed to flee the enclave, during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), Colonial, covering some 16,000 hectares, was used as a concentration camp and torture.
In fact, the enclave was to be denounced as “a state within a state” by former President Patricio Aylwin (1990-1994), who initiated steps to unlock the secrets hidden in that location.
Together with a group of German settlers, Schaefer founded the Colonia Dignidad in 1961, in the region of Maule, in southern Chile, a benevolent society for disadvantaged children.
But then came to light abuses in that place, he was forced to leave the country. Between 1997 and early 2005 no one knew of his whereabouts until he was captured by police in Argentina in March of that year, then moved to Chile to be sentenced for various crimes against children living in the enclave.
Former Nazi soldier was sentenced to seven years for murder, three years for violation of the Arms Control Act, 3 over 20 years for torture and sexual abuse against minors.
Pinera offered stiffen the penalties for such abuses. “If we have to toughen penalties (against those who abuse children) are going to harden them,” he said.
After his conviction, Schaefer was admitted to a high security prison, but their poor condition health forced his transfer to the prison hospital where he died.
Hernan Fernandez attorney representing several victims of Schaefer, said sentences are still pending for several cases of abuse, both against the former chief and their collaborators.