A 32-year old man has been arrested for using social media to lure his victims and then allegedly rape them.
A case of rape was opened on the 18th of May 2020 at the Queenstown SAPS by a 17-year-old girl.
Queenstown FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Crime Intelligence, K9 and Flying squad members, assisted by Red Guard Security were alerted of the incident and sprung into action to track down the perpetrator.
It has been said that the man would use Facebook selling pages and adverts to pose as a fake modelling agency and offer paid work to young girls.
“She attended the photoshoot alone with the suspect after other models left. During the photoshoot, 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.” said Brig. Tembinkosi Kinana
The suspect used a network of Facebook accounts to mask his identity.
After some thorough investigation Police managed to track down his real identity. Searching his name through the system Police revealed that he had pending rape cases already open.
Police set out to arrest the man and intercepted him between Umtata and King Williams Town on the 19th of May 2020. It has been said that he was in possession of a false doctor’s note which was used to grant access between provinces illegally.
“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.” said Brig Tembinkosi Kinana
The man was due in court today at Queenstown Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape, fraud, and contravention of the COVID-19 lockdown.
