Court rules German man must not serve Chile abuse sentence

BERLIN – An appeals court in western Germany has ruled that a German man convicted in Chile of playing a role in the sexual abuse of children at a secretive colony there does not have to serve his prison time in Germany.

The dpa news agency reported Tuesday that the Duesseldorf state court overturned a lower court finding, ruling that Hartmut Hopp does not have to serve his five-year sentence for accessory to the colony leader’s sexual abuse of children, because his actions weren’t punishable under German law.

The doctor, 74, was convicted in Chile in 2011 but fled home before the verdict took effect.

The crimes took place at the Colonia Dignidad enclave, where residents were physically and psychologically abused for three decades beginning in 1961 after moving there from Germany.