Verulam rape suspect on the run for 11 years arrested

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Durban - A man who had allegedly skipped his rape trial and went on the run for 11 years was arrested at a petrol station in Verulam on Thursday.

The 41-year-old man was at the petrol station in Todd Street waiting to go to work when he was spotted by an eagle-eyed Reaction Unit SA (Rusa) security officer.

Prem Balram of Rusa said his officers were told to be on the look-out for the man by the detective working the case six months ago.





"The police officer from a specialized unit requested that Reaction Officers lookout for the man after he had (allegedly) raped an elderly woman in 2007. He was arrested but failed to appear in court after being granted bail. Reaction Officers had been searching for the man for several months and eventually received information that he had fled to Johannesburg," Balram said.

A man who had allegedly skipped his rape trial and went on the run for 11 years was arrested at a petrol station in Verulam on Thursday. Picture: RUSA







He said the man was handed over to the detective.



"The suspect has multiple charges of theft, fraud, rape and other cases that were opened against him in Kwazulu-Natal," Balram said.





Police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed the arrest. She said the man will appear in court soon.







