Staff Reporter
One of Mangaung’s most wanted criminals facing numerous charges of rape has been arrested.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Peter Kareli said the 34-year-old suspect was arrested after two weeks of tracking and tracing by a dedicated team of police officials.
The Mangaung Tracing Intervention Task Team cornered him in the city just after midday on Thursday.
“He has been on the wanted list for the past 13 years and was arrested after he was linked through DNA,” said Kareli.
“It is alleged that the suspect surprised his victims by sneaking from behind and grabbing them by the neck, threatening to stab them.
“He would then drag the victims to either an open space or an empty house where he would rape them and run away when done.”
All the rape cases happened in the Bloemspruit area and the victims are aged between 23 and 24 with one victim aged 43 years old.
The attacks happened between 2009 and 2013.
The suspect will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Monday facing 13 counts of rape and attempted murder.
Meanwhile, police in the eastern Free State have arrested two suspects at Christina Farm following a house robbery which took place on a farm near Harrismith in which a 77-year-old pensioner was robbed of her liquor and other valuables.
The Free Stater reported yesterday that at about 16:15 on Tuesday, the elderly woman was at her farm when she heard water running outside the house.
She went to inspect and found that it was a geyser and went back into her bedroom.
But as she came out of the bedroom, she was surprised by a man who was holding a knife.
He demanded firearms and cash.
The suspect allegedly robbed her of her liquor bottles and fled the scene without harming the victim.
It was later discovered that he had gained entry through a window and a case of house robbery was reported to the police.
The two suspects, aged 22 and from Christina Farm in Harrismith, were found in possession of liquor, a bag and a wallet that belonged to the complainant together with a knife.
They have been charged with house robbery and possession of a dangerous weapon.
They are expected to appear before the Harrismith Magistrates Court on Friday.