German held over 'Chile torture'

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German held over 'Chile torture' <br> <br>Colonia Dignidad was founded in 1961 <br>A German doctor is in custody after allegedly admitting she tortured a number of children at Colonia Dignidad, a secretive religious colony in Chile. <br>Gisela Seewald, 75, is said to have told a judge that she gave them electroshock treatment and sedatives. <br><br>She was ordered to do so by the group's ex-leader, Paul Schaefer, who said they were possessed, she reportedly said. <br><br>Mr Schaefer is in jail charged with child abuse and aiding secret police during the 1973-1990 military regime. <br><br>A former Nazi and Baptist preacher, he established the 13,000-hectare (32,000-acre) colony in southern Chile in 1961, after fleeing Germany to escape child abuse charges. <br><br>Five days <br><br>It is alleged that the treatments were applied to teenagers who disobeyed adults or showed interest in the opposite sex. <br><br> <br>Commune leader Paul Schaefer was arrested in March <br><br>The judge has five days to file charges against Mrs Seewald. <br><br>Mrs Seewald arrived in Colonia Dignidad in 1963, two years after Mr Schaefer and her husband, Dr Gerd Seewald. <br><br>She was head of the commune's hospital between 1975 and 1978. <br><br>Mr and Mrs Seewald still live in the enclave, now known as Villa Baviera, which was taken over by the Chilean authorities earlier this year. <br><br>As well as abuses against the commune's residents - most of whom are believed to have been held there against their will - the judge is investigating the possibility that arms trafficking and human rights abuses took place under Mr Schaefer's leadership. <br><br><br><br> E-mail this to a friend Printable <br> <br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4562918.stm">news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4562918.stm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>