Fugitive wanted for 2010 rape of fiancée caught in Isipingo
Man accused of 2010 attack on his fiancée traced to KwaZulu-Natal coast
A 22-year-old woman, kidnapped and raped by her then-fiancé in Türkiye in 2010, was left with permanent physical and psychological impairment, according to Turkish authorities. More than a decade later, the man accused of harming her was found in Isipingo on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
The arrest came on Thursday, 1 October. INTERPOL South Africa’s Fugitive Investigation Team, working with Crime Intelligence, Isipingo police and private security, located the 40-year-old Turkish man. Turkish authorities say the alleged offences began in 2010, when the suspect is accused of kidnapping his fiancée and raping her over several days. He is also accused of repeatedly striking her head against a wall.
The charges he faces in Türkiye include rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. After the investigation in Türkiye was completed, the suspect allegedly fled the country. He was eventually traced to Isipingo, where South African authorities acted on a formal extradition request. INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Pretoria obtained and executed a warrant under Section 5(1)(b) of the relevant legislation.
The man appeared before the Umlazi Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 2 October. The extradition process brought by the government of Türkiye was formally placed before the court.
Meanwhile, the Isipingo arrest came just weeks after another Turkish fugitive was taken into custody in Cape Town in a separate case. On Monday, 21 September, INTERPOL South Africa arrested a former primary school principal wanted in Türkiye over allegations involving sexual assault, kidnapping and intimidation against a nine-year-old victim. That suspect has since appeared before the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court.
Taken together, the two cases show how wanted suspects can be traced even after crossing international borders. INTERPOL channels allow South African law enforcement to work with authorities abroad to locate and arrest fugitives, and SAPS continues to use these networks to bring wanted individuals before the courts in the countries where they must face legal proceedings. In both matters, the extradition process will determine the next steps regarding the suspects’ potential transfer to Türkiye.
Further details on the arrests are available at https://www.capetownetc.com/news/interpol-arrests-two-turkish-fugitives-in-south-africa/
Q&A
What happened to the woman in Türkiye in 2010?
Turkish authorities say he kidnapped his fiancée in 2010, raped her over several days, and repeatedly struck her head against a wall, leaving her with permanent physical and psychological impairment.
How was the fugitive found in Isipingo?
On Thursday, 1 October, INTERPOL South Africa's Fugitive Investigation Team, working with Crime Intelligence, Isipingo police and private security, located him in Isipingo on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
What charges does he face in Türkiye?
Rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, malicious damage to property and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
What was the other recent Turkish fugitive arrest in South Africa?
On Monday, 21 September, INTERPOL South Africa arrested a former primary school principal wanted in Türkiye over sexual assault, kidnapping and intimidation of a nine-year-old victim; he has appeared before the Cape Town Magistrates' Court.