US fugitive arrested in Brakpan

Friday, August 12, 2016

Pretoria - Members of the extradition unit of Interpol have arrested a wanted United States fugitive, who has been on the run since 2009.

Nichole Michelle King (44) had been on the most wanted for sentencing after she was found guilty on three offences relating to fraud and embezzlement of funds from her employer.

“In June this year, authorities in the US requested the Interpol unit to arrest and extradite King. The fugitive was arrested at her rental house in Brakpan, Gauteng, on Wednesday and she subsequently appeared before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court,” Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said on Friday.

She has been remanded in custody until her next appearance on 18 August 2016.

King was arrested in 2006 and was due to be sentenced on 11 December 2009 when she skipped the country and found a hiding place in South Africa.

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old South African woman was arrested at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama with 5 000 grams of cocaine worth over R4.5 million.

The woman was about to board a flight to Lisbon via Sao Jose and Madrid.

She was searched and the drugs were found concealed inside her back pack, some were sewn inside her jacket’s hood.  

She will appear in court soon. - SAnews.gov.za