The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
https://nypost.com/2019/08/29/iranian-man-accused-of-rape-in-uk-flees-after-hes-released-on-bail/
Iranian man accused of rape in UK flees after he’s released on bail
By Amanda Woods
August 29, 2019 | 1:48pm
Halwest Muradi
An Iranian man accused of raping a stranger in the UK was released on bail because the court couldn’t find an interpreter — and then went on the run, according to a new report.
Halwest Muradi, 24, allegedly raped a 20-something-year-old woman back in November in the town of Colchester, Essex, Metro UK reported.
Muradi was granted bail late last month, with a curfew order imposed by town magistrates, but the Ipswich Crown Court heard he had disappeared, according to the report.
Authorities caught him in the back of an Amazon van in Kent — and he was taken to court on Aug. 2 for breaching bail, according to the report.
Yet once the court heard that no interpreters were available, Muradi was released on bail once again, the outlet reported.
“They took the view that as they couldn’t find an interpreter they couldn’t deal with the breach of bail,” prosecutor Jane Oldfield told the paper.
He was due to enter a plea during a court appearance Wednesday — but was a no-show, and had apparently bolted a second time, the outlet reported.
Judge David Pugh called it “utterly extraordinary” that Muradi had been released, and issued a warrant for his arrest, not backed by bail, according to the report.
Essex Police Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss urged anyone who has seen Muradi to call the authorities immediately.
“It’s of the utmost importance that we find Halwest Muradi and speak to him about this alleged breach,” Truss said in a statement obtained by Metro. “We believe he may have links to Kent and Swansea, but he could still be in the county and we would urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to reach out to us.”
He is 5-foot-7 with medium build and short, dark, straight hair, Truss said.
Iranian man accused of rape in UK flees after he’s released on bail
By Amanda Woods
August 29, 2019 | 1:48pm
Halwest Muradi
An Iranian man accused of raping a stranger in the UK was released on bail because the court couldn’t find an interpreter — and then went on the run, according to a new report.
Halwest Muradi, 24, allegedly raped a 20-something-year-old woman back in November in the town of Colchester, Essex, Metro UK reported.
Muradi was granted bail late last month, with a curfew order imposed by town magistrates, but the Ipswich Crown Court heard he had disappeared, according to the report.
Authorities caught him in the back of an Amazon van in Kent — and he was taken to court on Aug. 2 for breaching bail, according to the report.
Yet once the court heard that no interpreters were available, Muradi was released on bail once again, the outlet reported.
“They took the view that as they couldn’t find an interpreter they couldn’t deal with the breach of bail,” prosecutor Jane Oldfield told the paper.
He was due to enter a plea during a court appearance Wednesday — but was a no-show, and had apparently bolted a second time, the outlet reported.
Judge David Pugh called it “utterly extraordinary” that Muradi had been released, and issued a warrant for his arrest, not backed by bail, according to the report.
Essex Police Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss urged anyone who has seen Muradi to call the authorities immediately.
“It’s of the utmost importance that we find Halwest Muradi and speak to him about this alleged breach,” Truss said in a statement obtained by Metro. “We believe he may have links to Kent and Swansea, but he could still be in the county and we would urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to reach out to us.”
He is 5-foot-7 with medium build and short, dark, straight hair, Truss said.
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