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02:06 GMT, Tuesday, 15 July 2008 03:06 UK

SS doctor 'still alive in Chile'

Former SS doctor Aribert Heim is still likely to be alive in Chile, a director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre has said at the end of a five-day mission.

Efraim Zuroff said he was convinced people knowing the whereabouts of the 94-year-old Nazi could be found.

"A person this age cannot live on his own," said Mr Zuroff.

Heim tortured and killed prisoners in Mauthausen concentration camp in World War II, but fled Germany in 1962 before authorities were able to arrest him.

He performed operations and amputations without anaesthetic, and injected victims straight into the heart with petrol, water or poison.

Daughter key

Speaking in Bariloche, southern Argentina, Mr Zuroff said: "There is no evidence that he is dead, but, to the contrary, there are numerous leads that he could be alive."

Aribert Heim - date unknown

He said the key to finding Heim was the fact that his daughter, Waltraud Diharce, lived in the Chilean town of Puerto Montt.

"From there he travelled to Bariloche 50 times in one year," said Mr Zuroff.

He also noted no-one had claimed any of the investments or the multi-million dollar bank account in Heim's name - something that would require proof of Heim's death.

Mr Zuroff said that the groundwork had been laid for Heim's capture "in the next few weeks - or at the most, months".

A reward of $495,000 is being offered by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and the German and Austrian governments.

Mr Zuroff, who heads the centre's office in Jerusalem, said he had been favourably surprised by how much the Argentine government had been supporting the investigation.




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Related to this story:
On the trail of 'Dr Death' (09 Jul 08 |  Americas )
Most wanted Nazi sought in Chile (09 Jul 08 |  Americas )
Spanish police hunt Austrian Nazi (17 Oct 05 |  Europe )
Last hunt for old Nazis launched (26 Jan 05 |  Americas )
Holocaust hotline anger in Poland (16 Jun 04 |  Europe )
Nazi hunters advertise in Latvia (18 Jan 03 |  Europe )
Obituary: Simon Wiesenthal (20 Sep 05 |  Europe )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Simon Wiesenthal Centre - Operation Last Chance
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