Man flees in undies, leg-irons

2003-11-25 19:59

Riot Hlatshwayo

Polokwane - A rape suspect who escaped from a Limpopo hospital in only his underpants and leg-irons last week, handed himself over to police on Monday.

He allegedly claimed he escaped to "fix something" at home, said Constable Kgabo Kekana of Lebowakgomo police on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old escaped from police guard at Lebowakgomo Hospital near Polokwane about 09:00 on Sunday, November 16.

"He was left only in his underwear when his hospital gown got caught on the barbed wire around the hospital," she said.

She said the man had yet to tell police where the leg-irons were, as well as what he had wanted to fix at home.

The man now faces an additional charge of escaping from custody, over and above the rape charge.

He had been arrested in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old girl who was walking alone in a street about two weeks ago.

Shortly after his arrest he pretended to have a fit and was taken to hospital, from where he made his escape.

He is expected to appear in Lebowakgomo magistrate's court on Wednesday.

- African Eye