Serial rapist used social media to lure young girls, EC

South African Police Service

Serial rapist used social media to lure young girls, EC
Serial rapist used social media to lure young girls, EC

A great team effort and well-coordinated collaboration by the Queenstown FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Crime Intelligence, K9 and Flying squad members, assisted by Red Guard Security organised a successful effort resulting in the arrest of a social media rapist on 19 May 2020.

The 32-year-old man is suspected of being behind a series of rapes that were committed after unsuspecting victims were lured through social media under the disguise and a promise for work as a model.

The arrest followed after a 17-year-old was allegedly raped at Warner Street, Queenstown. A rape case was opened at Queenstown SAPS on 18 May 2020 at about 15:30.

The rape happened after the 17-year-old victim saw an advert on Facebook about photo shoots for young girls who wanted to work and be paid as models. The victim was given a date, 18 May 2020 at 14:00 as the time for her photo shoot.

She attended the photo shoot alone with the suspect after other models left. During the photo shoot, it is when the suspect allegedly raped the victim. Although the victim did not know the suspect, she said she was able to identify him.

Through further investigation police picked up that the suspect had several Facebook accounts and was a regular traveler who had reached many destinations all over South Africa.

In all these different towns, the suspect was advertising to attract young girls to pitch up for the photo sessions. It is believed, this is how he lured the unsuspecting victims, chose his targets and raped them.

Police managed to get the real identity of the suspect and under his police profile there were already several rape cases pending against him.

Through police intelligence, the suspect was intercepted while traveling from Umtata to King Williams Town on 19 May 2020. In his possession was a false doctor’s note that aided him to travel around as well as a laptop, camera, memory cards and a cellphone.

A case of fraud and contravention of Covid-19 was opened after he was arrested at Kei Bridge. He was subsequently detained in Queenstown.

The suspect is believed to have visited a lot of towns and in each opened a Facebook account he later used it as a launching pad for his criminal traps and schemes. Police are also of the view that there must be a lot of other cases unreported or pending under the suspect’s name or under investigation by other stations and FCS Units all over South Africa, especially from cases that emanated from the Facebook accounts.

He was expected to appear at the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court on 21 May 2020.

Anyone with information about the suspect or want to come forward with information can contact the Investigating Officer attached to Queenstown FCS, Sergeant Vizicelo Ludidi on 071 352 5252.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service