A man who absconded from South Africa to avoid standing trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend nearly a decade ago has been successfully extradited to the country.
Gerard Jansen Van Vuuren arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport on Friday afternoon.
The 39-year-old man was nabbed in Brazil about four months ago and kept in custody at a Rio de Janeiro prison.
Jansen Van Vuuren was due to stand trial in May 2013 after he allegedly stabbed to death his then 25-year-old ex-girlfriend outside her Johannesburg home in December 2011.
But four days before the start of his murder trial, the accused fled the country using false travel documentation.
Subsequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by Interpol and a process to track him down was expedited.
He was arrested by Brazilian authorities in August 2013 on a charge of false documentation and released in 2015 after serving a sentence for this crime.
The police said Interpol had been working with Brazilian authorities for several years to locate Jansen Van Vuuren and eventually arrested him at an identified address in Brazil in June this year.
In other news – Trouble in paradise: Actress Nandi Mbatha allegedly kicked out of bae Anga Makubalo’s house
Former Isithembiso actress Nandi Mbatha has allegedly been kicked to the curb by Isono actor and singer Anga Makubalo, professionally known as Naakmusiq. Although the couple has not officially confirmed the break-up, two reliable sources revealed the split.
According to a close friend who did not want to be named for fear of victimization, the once happy couple officially split up two weeks ago. Learn More
